Three dead after horror flash floods batter Brit tourist hotspot as cars swept away, schools shut & flights diverted

8 comments 8 Next THREE people have died and at least four are missing after horror flash floods swept through Turkey, forcing schools to close and flights to divert. As flash floods rip through Greece , biblical rain also pummelled Istanbul sending terrified residents and tourists scrambling for safety as raging torrents left entire neighbourhoods submerged. 14 Damaged vehicles after horror flash floods in Sariyer and areas of Istanbul Credit: Getty 14 Vehicles stranded in a flooded highway during heavy rain Credit: AP Advertisement 14 A man tries to cling on for life as the roads were turned into rapids Credit: Solarpix 14 An entire bus was flooded in Istanbul Credit: Getty A 14-year-old boy was killed after he was electrocuted while stepping into a puddle in a park in Istanbul’s Fatih district on Wednesday night. He was rushed to hospital unconscious but tragically died despite desperate efforts to save him. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. The second victim, aged 34, died after slipping on a pavement and suffering a fatal head injury in the Sariyer district. A third person’s body was found near Sadabad Park in the Kağıthane district. READ MORE IN WORLD NEWS FLOOD TRAGEDY Brit killed as torrential rain sparks floods in Spain TORRENT OF HELL Dramatic moment flash floods wipe out entire bridge in Nepal as 5 missing Officials are working to identify the man who was swept to death in the extreme weather conditions. The deadly downpours unleashed chaos across the sprawling city, trapping motorists, flooding hundreds of homes and forcing desperate residents to flee rising waters. Advertisement Flights have also been diverted to alternative spots in Turkey as 43 aircraft were unable to land in Istanbul airport, according to the Turkish Transportation Ministry. Sabiha Gokcen Airport, located on the Asian side of Istanbul,also had top temporarily halt flights due to powerful winds. Most read in The Sun BLAZE ALERT Huge fire erupts at power station as locals warned to keep windows shut TAKE NOTE New GCSE exam rule being rolled out in England next month in curriculum shake-up COP 'SHAME' Police Interceptors star 'went dogging with cop after sending her sexual pics' BRIT 'BRONX' Inside 'Hunger Games' estate where locals fear 'chase or kill' balaclava gangs 14 At least two victims have died in the chaos Credit: Solarpix 14 Residents can be seen clinging onto a rope for safety as a raging torrent swallowed the road Credit: Solarpix Three planes were diverted to Ankara, Turkey’s capital. Advertisement Harrowing footage captured people battling powerful torrents as cars and debris were swept through submerged streets. Another clip shows terrified passengers scrambling through bus roof hatches as raging floodwaters swallowed roads and swept vehicles away. In one dramatic rescue, a woman was saved from being swept away by a raging current after heroic bystanders rushed to her aid. Elsewhere, stunned residents watched from balconies as muddy floodwaters engulfed their neighbourhoods. Rescue teams worked through the night to free hundreds of people stranded at their workplaces as apocalyptic rain pounded Turkey’s biggest city. Advertisement Authorities deployed about 8,000 personnel and 2,000 vehicles and pieces of heavy machinery across the city. Emergency services were bombarded with more than 2,500 reports of weather-related incidents, including 1,277 floods and 15 landslides. 14 Cars and debris were swept through submerged streets Credit: Solarpix 14 A submerged car park after flash floods in Istanbul Credit: Solarpix More than 800 homes, 280 businesses and 76 vehicles were battered by the deluge, while 47 people were reported stranded. Advertisement The Istanbul’s governor’s office has suspended classes at all schools across the province on Thursday and Friday. Floodwaters even breached two hospitals as the relentless downpour overwhelmed parts of the city’s infrastructure. In the Sultangazi district, a primary school’s retaining wall collapsed while terrified pupils were inside their classrooms. Roads buckled under the force of the water in Eyupsultan and Gaziosmanpasa, leaving vehicles stranded amid the wreckage. Traffic ground to a standstill as desperate commuters battled treacherous conditions and submerged underpasses. Advertisement Istanbul’s Metropolitan Municipality revealed some districts had been battered by their heaviest rainfall since 1985. Authorities ordered schools to shut on Thursday as the deadly storm continued to hammer the city. Motorcycles were banned from the roads, while some state employees were placed on leave amid fears of further devastation. Residents were urged to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary, with those living in basement flats warned to seek shelter elsewhere overnight. Heavy rain continued to lash Istanbul on Thursday morning as emergency crews battled the aftermath of the disaster. Advertisement The deadly chaos comes as violent storms wreak havoc across the Mediterranean, with flash floods also claiming a life on the popular Greek holiday island of Rhodes. A 62-year-old hotel worker was found dead at sea after raging floodwaters swept his car off the coast near Stegna beach in Archangelos. The victim had reportedly gone to collect his vehicle when he was caught in the ferocious torrent. Coastguard officers later recovered his body after four vehicles were swept into the sea. Rhodes was among the worst-hit areas as a staggering 264mm of rain battered the island by early afternoon on Wednesday. Advertisement 14 A man is swept away in the deeply flooded roads Credit: Solarpix 14 Terrified residents and tourists scrambled for safety Credit: Getty 14 More than 800 homes, 280 businesses and 76 vehicles were battered by the deluge Credit: Getty 14 Floodwater engulfed and entire car park in Istanbul Credit: Solarpix A whopping 202mm fell in just six-and-a-half hours, according to the National Observatory of Athens. Advertisement Terrifying footage showed roads transformed into raging rivers as cars were swept away and motorists became trapped in rising waters. Authorities declared an emergency and issued urgent alerts ordering residents and holidaymakers to restrict all but essential travel. The warning read: “Due to severe weather conditions in the Regional Unit of #Rodos, limit your movement to the absolutely necessary”. In Archangelos, violent torrents ripped apart roads and split Stegna beach in two. A huge rockslide smashed into a major road, damaging its surface and protective barriers, while a bridge was temporarily closed over safety fears. Advertisement Lightning also sparked a house fire in Ialyssos as the brutal weather battered the island. Seven Greek regions were placed on Code Red alert, including Crete, Attica, Evia and the South Aegean. The widespread devastation forced schools to shut, ferry crossings to be suspended and major tourist attractions to close. Rhodes’ famous Palace of the Grand Master and archaeological sites including Lindos were among the landmarks shuttered as officials scrambled to protect visitors. Gale-force winds reaching up to 10 on the Beaufort scale also wreaked havoc on ferry services, leaving travellers facing widespread cancellations. Advertisement Elsewhere, the holiday island of Skiathos was battered by violent floods that swept away cars, destroyed sections of road and plunged neighbourhoods into darkness. 14 Rescue teams worked through the night to free hundreds of people stranded at their workplaces Credit: Getty 14 Istanbul’s Metropolitan Municipality revealed some districts had been battered by their heaviest rainfall since 1985 Credit: Getty Mayor Thodoris Tzoumas revealed that up to 50 businesses and 20 homes had suffered damage. He said: “The rain and winds continue. We are carrying out repairs to the main network, where we have some power outages. Advertisement “We had some trees fall and two cars have been swept away, while schools are closed. The phenomenon seems to be subsiding.” Meanwhile, residents in Evia were ordered to flee towards Psachna after the Kireas River burst its banks, severing a major road connection. Two people were also rescued after their sailing boat ran aground near the island of Peristera amid powerful winds. The deadly weather marks Greece’s second wave of devastating storms in just two weeks. Earlier this month, floods tore through Crete, wrecking infrastructure, destroying crops and killing livestock. Advertisement A 79-year-old shepherd was found dead during the earlier disaster. RECOMMENDED STORIES A 58-year-old German tourist was also killed after being struck by lightning on a beach in Rhodes. Emergency crews remain on high alert as the battered Mediterranean region reels from the deadly storms. 8 comments 8