Storm batters Turkey, tearing roofs off, flooding coasts, disrupting transport

Severe storms and heavy rainfall swept across Turkey on Thursday, causing widespread damage and disruption from İstanbul to western and central provinces.

“Severe storms and heavy rainfall swept across large parts of Turkey on Thursday, causing widespread damage from İstanbul to western and central provinces, flooding coastal areas, overturning vehicles and disrupting transport and daily life in several areas.”

Turkish Minute

The extreme weather conditions generated large waves along the Bosporus and Marmara Sea coastline, resulting in significant flooding of coastal areas.

@Hurriyet

The storm's impact extended beyond flooding to include overturned vehicles, damaged infrastructure, and disruption of daily life across multiple regions.

Emergency services and local authorities issued warnings as the conditions worsened throughout the day.

İstanbul bore the brunt of the storm's fury, with multiple districts experiencing severe flooding and infrastructure damage.

In Beşiktaş, waves several meters high spilled onto the waterfront road, briefly flooding sections of the area.

Turkish Minute

The Kartal district saw seawater overflow onto coastal roads, while the Tuzla shoreline witnessed boats capsizing due to the violent conditions.

Social media footage captured the dramatic scenes of destruction, including a crane weighing several tons being toppled during the storm, highlighting the extent of the damage across the Marmara region.

Transportation systems across Turkey faced significant disruptions as the storm intensified.

“Some ferry services in İstanbul were suspended, while a passenger plane was unable to land at Sabiha Gökçen Airport.”

Turkish Minute

Ferry services in İstanbul were suspended due to dangerous conditions, while a passenger plane was unable to land at Sabiha Gökçen Airport, forcing emergency procedures.

The airport's operations were severely impacted by the extreme weather conditions.

Public transportation and daily commutes were affected as roads became flooded and unsafe for travel.

The disruption extended to maritime activities, with boat owners struggling to secure their vessels against the powerful waves.

The storm posed serious safety risks to residents and individuals caught outdoors.

In Bursa, where winds reached 75 km/h, residents faced extremely dangerous conditions trying to navigate outside.

Turkish Minute

People were knocked to the ground by the powerful gusts, with some resorting to laying on the ground to avoid being swept away.

Others crouched or clung to each other waiting for the wind to ease, demonstrating the life-threatening nature of the storm.

Emergency authorities warned that the winds were expected to persist through the night, extending the period of danger for those affected.

The storm's impact extended beyond İstanbul and Bursa to affect multiple regions across western and central Turkey.

“Severe storms and heavy rainfall swept across large parts of Turkey on Thursday, causing widespread damage from İstanbul to western and central provinces”

Turkish Minute

Coastal areas throughout the Marmara region experienced similar flooding and wave damage, indicating the widespread nature of the weather system.

@Hurriyet

The combination of heavy rainfall and strong winds created dangerous conditions across affected provinces, with emergency services coordinating response efforts.

Local disaster coordination centers worked to assess damage and provide assistance to those affected by the storm.

The storm had disrupted normal life patterns and caused significant infrastructure damage across the affected regions.