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Heavy rainfall across Istanbul since late Friday has disrupted daily life, triggered accidents, and prompted authorities to urge people to stay off the roads unless necessary.
According to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), rainfall levels reached between 54 and 93 kilograms per square meter across the city.
In practical terms, this equals roughly 110 to 186 standard 500ml water bottles for every square meter of the city.
IBB Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan said teams are responding to incidents across the city while monitoring developments from the Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM).
Officials said the rainfall follows a prolonged dry period and has helped replenish water reserves.
“Since Friday night, rainfall between 54 and 93 kilograms per square meter has been recorded. This is a serious level of precipitation. Our reservoirs are rapidly collecting water,” Aslan said.
Recent data places Istanbul’s dam occupancy rate at around 58%, down from 79.9% on the same date last year.
At the same time, the intensity of the rainfall has caused disruption. Water accumulation, localized flooding, fallen trees, and infrastructure issues have been reported in several districts.
Several ferry services from Istanbul have been canceled due to rough conditions in the Marmara Sea, including IDO routes from Yenikapi, Kadikoy, and Pendik to Bursa and Yalova, and BUDO services from Kabatas to Bursa (Mudanya) and Armutlu.
Passengers are advised to check schedules before travel.
Officials warned that road conditions have become increasingly dangerous, especially on major highways.
Aslan said accident risks have increased, with incidents reported in different parts of the city.
A major traffic accident on the Northern Marmara Motorway left 30 people injured, including four in critical condition.
Authorities said wet roads and reduced visibility are raising the likelihood of further accidents. IBB has mobilized large-scale emergency response teams to manage the situation.
According to official figures:
Officials said they are responding rapidly across all districts as reports come in.
AKOM and city officials urged people to take precautions as rainfall is expected to continue intermittently throughout the week.
Authorities outlined three main recommendations:
“We ask that you avoid going out in traffic unless necessary, remain cautious in risky areas, and follow official announcements,” Aslan said.
While officials said the rainfall is beneficial for water resources, they stressed that it also creates short-term risks for mobility and safety in a city of nearly 20 million people.
AKOM noted that rain will continue across Istanbul until midday, with heavier showers on the Asian side lasting into the evening. Rainfall will decrease overnight, though intermittent showers are expected throughout the week.
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