14-year-old victim of floods in Istanbul. The downpours paralyzed the city

According to the Istanbul governor's office, 14-year-old Mahmut Isildak is among the victims. A 34-year-old man also died when he slipped on a flooded street in Sariyer and hit his head on the ground. The body of the third victim was found in the Kagithane district. According to the Cumhuriyet daily, it was 56-year-old Ahmet Usta.

Huge downpours flooded Istanbul

The heaviest rainfall occurred on Wednesday evening. Water flooded roads and underpasses, immobilized cars and paralyzed transport. Rescue operations continued throughout the night. Police officers, rescuers and divers evacuated residents from flooded areas, using, among others, boats. I don't remember it raining so hard since I've lived here. The city practically stopped functioning, Yussuf, a native of Istanbul, reported to PAP.

According to the city authorities, some areas of the metropolis recorded the highest rainfall totals since 1985. However, numerous videos appeared on social media showing flooded metro stations, buses driving through deep water, partially flooding the interiors of vehicles, and severely damaged roads.

The tragic accident occurred in the Fatih district, near Cukurbostan Park. 14-year-old Mahmut Isildak, wanting to protect his shoes from getting wet, took them off and walked barefoot through the flooded area. According to İHA news agency, he stepped on electric wires lying on the ground and was electrocuted. Despite being taken to hospital, he could not be saved.

It's scary, he was so young. He held his shoes in his hands so they wouldn't get wet. He didn't know he wouldn't live to see the next day. I'm so sorry. Someone must answer for this, Emine, a resident of Fatih, told PAP.

Funeral of a 14-year-old boy

The boy's funeral ceremony was held at the Ismailaga Mosque on Thursday. According to the Turkish DHA agency, the participants included: Istanbul Governor Davut Gul and the capital's police chief Selami Yildiz. After prayers, the 14-year-old's body was taken to his hometown of Doganli in Duzce Province, where he was to be buried.

The footage of the tragic accident caused a stir on social media. Internet users remind us that a similar tragedy has happened before. "It's terrible. I'm afraid to leave the house," wrote one commenter on the X platform.

This is about the tragedy of July 2024, when 23-year-old Ozge Ceren Deniz was fatally electrocuted in Izmir after entering a puddle. 44-year-old Inanc Oktemay, who tried to pull her from the water, also died. The father of the deceased Deniz, Ahmet Abi, commented on the tragedy in Istanbul. Watching the video, I saw what happened to my child. If the necessary precautions had been taken, this tragedy would not have occurred, he said, expressing his condolences to the boy's family.

He emphasized that conclusions should be drawn from similar incidents.

Tragedy in Izmir