Disasters · Istanbul floodsIstanbul Flood Death Toll Rises to 3 as Schools Stay Closed Through FridayAired October 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM UTCWritten October 15, 2026 at 2:04 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Flooding in Istanbul has killed three people and four others are missing.0:11Rescuers have evacuated 2,727 people as water-filled homes and workplaces and0:16submerged roads.0:18Schools across the city will stay closed through Friday, extending the shutdown by0:22another day.0:22Where have evacuations finished and what dangers are still keeping people from home?0:27A man's body found beside Sadabat Park in Kagithne brought the death toll to three.0:31Officials are still identifying him.0:34Four other people remain missing.0:36A separate count from the man whose body was recovered.0:38The toll rose from one death to two, then three as the emergency continued.0:43Heavy rain intensified Wednesday, October 14th, and flooding disrupted the city0:47through Thursday.0:48The first identified victim was 14-year-old Mahmoud Ishil Dak.0:52He was electrocuted after stepping into standing water in Bolat, in Fati.0:56He reached hospital unconscious, and doctors couldn't save him.1:00The municipality later placed the incident at the vehicle entrance of a private1:03parking area adjoining Sukerbostan Park.1:06The first announcement had placed it inside the park.1:08The clarified location is near Sultan Salem Qadesi.1:11Mahmoud had reportedly taken off his shoes to keep them dry before walking barefoot1:16through the water.1:17He was a Hafez, someone who had memorized the Quran.1:20The governor's office opened an investigation.1:23Investigators haven't identified the source of the current or who was responsible1:27for the hazard.1:28A 34-year-old man, identified as S.Y., slipped while crossing a flooded road near a1:33guest house in Ayyaza.1:35He struck his head on the curb and couldn't escape the water.1:38Bystanders pulled him out, but he died in hospital.1:41Governor Davut Gul also said three people were hospitalized with injuries that1:45weren't life-threatening.1:46Emergency services received 2,518 notifications during Wednesday's daytime and1:50evening tally.1:51They recorded 1,277 flooding incidents and 15 landslides.1:56They also counted 47 stranding incidents.1:58An earlier English rendering mistakenly turned that last figure into 47 people.2:02Emergency notifications can include repeated calls about the same incident.2:06As operations expanded overnight, both the response and evacuation totals grew.2:11The initial deployment involved 8,000 personnel and 2,000 vehicles and construction2:16machines.2:17The municipality separately counted 8,392 personnel and2:212,246 vehicles and machines.2:24Those figures overlap and cover different stages of the response.2:28Interior Minister Mustafa Chiftzi's later citywide briefing put the response at2:3246,597 personnel, with 2,288 vehicles and 142:38boats.2:39Adding the earlier deployments to those figures would count overlapping teams again.2:43Municipal teams evacuated or rescued 595 people.2:47That count sits within the broader citywide total of 2,727.2:52People needing accommodation were being housed in public guesthouses.2:56The municipality received 8,515 notifications, while the wider citywide tally3:01reached 8,815.3:04The evacuation total now replaces the earlier estimate of about 2,500.3:08The municipal count describes people brought to safety.3:11At Phoenix Studios in Ayazaga, workers moved upstairs as water rose around the3:15complex and electricity was cut.3:17Water reportedly reached about two meters in and around the site.3:21Singer Murat Baz estimated that 200 to 250 people were trapped.3:26Actress Demit Ozdemir was there for filming.3:28Both were brought to safety by boat, along with other workers, during rescues that3:32continued into Thursday's early hours.3:35A later estimate put about 120 people on an upper floor.3:38Those headcounts may cover different groups or moments, so they don't tell us how3:42many had already left.3:44Strong currents initially made a complete nighttime evacuation unsafe.3:47AFAD disaster teams and UMKE medical rescuers joined Istanbul firefighters, the3:52Coast Guard, AQT volunteers, and police divers.3:56Boats carried stranded workers out as the operation continued through the night.3:59Shiftsi said the evacuation of people stranded in Ayazaga was complete.4:04Baz and Ozdemir are safe.4:06A final reconciled headcount for everyone at Phoenix Studios still hasn't been4:10released.4:10Bacos recorded 273.1 millimeters in the updated municipal rainfall figures.4:16Sarier recorded 208.1 and Aopsultan 202.8.4:21These are accumulated amounts across the storm and can't be described as single-day4:25totals.4:26An earlier 30-station data set mainly covered midnight October 13 through Thursday4:30morning.4:31It measured 269.5 millimeters in Bacos, 206.1 in Sarier, and4:362022 in Aweepsultan.4:39Earlier station measurements were lower.4:41Other Bacos readings ranged from about 242 to about 261 millimeters.4:47A kilogram of water per square meter equals a millimeter of rain, but readings need4:52matching locations and time periods before they can be compared.4:55Governor Gould called it Istanbul's highest rainfall since measurements began in4:591942, an 84-year comparison.5:02Municipal meteorologists use narrower language, describing one of the highest5:05amounts since 1985 or in recent years.5:08The rain was exceptionally heavy.5:10Its exact historical ranking is harder to pin down without matching stations and5:14measuring periods.5:15Schools will remain closed Friday, October 16th after Thursday's citywide5:19suspension.5:20The extra day allows inspections, cleaning, and preparation for a possible Monday5:24return.5:24Each university administration decides its own arrangements.5:27Monday, October 19th is the prospective return date.5:30A final reopening decision hasn't been announced.5:33Administrative leave covers disabled and pregnant public employees, veterans and5:37disabled veterans, and women with children younger than 8.5:40Exceptions apply in health, security, and flood response roles.5:44Mothers of disabled children under 8 are covered regardless of unit.5:48The leave arrangements run through Friday and apply to those specified public5:51employees.5:52Private sector employers aren't covered by the order.5:55Residents have been advised to stay home unless travel is essential.5:58People living in basement apartments were advised to spend the night elsewhere.6:01Below street-level households face that immediate disruption while families also6:05arrange child care during the extended school closure.6:08Ayaza's evacuation has a completion statement, but the citywide search continues.6:13Four people remain missing in the latest casualty update.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗