Turkey: Flash floods kill 3, paralyze Istanbul after record downpour

ANKARA — At least three people were killed and four remain missing as flash floods swept through Istanbul, stranding hundreds and turning major roads into rivers across the province of nearly 16 million people. Heavy rains that began early Wednesday intensified throughout the day and into the night, flooding lower floors of homes and businesses and disrupting public transportation in Istanbul province, Turkey’s largest financial hub. A 14-year-old boy identified by his initials, M.I., was killed after stepping into floodwaters near the entrance of a parking lot and being electrocuted in Istanbul’s Fatih district, the Istanbul governor’s office said. A second person, a 34-year-old man identified as S.Y., died after falling into floodwater in the Sariyer district, according to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The body of another person was discovered in Kagithane after being swept away by floodwaters from Sariyer, the governor’s office said later Thursday, adding that efforts were underway to identify the victim and that four people remain missing.