ISTANBUL, Oct 15 — Istanbul was today battling to recover from flooding caused by what officials said was the heaviest rainfall in the city since records began more than 80 years ago, as the downpour continued.
The rain began lashing Turkey’s largest city in earnest yesterday morning and intensified throughout the day, causing chaos and flash flooding, with footage showing cars being dragged away by the fast-flowing waters.
“We are talking here about the highest level of precipitation in Istanbul since records began in 1942,” Istanbul governor Davut Gul said.
Two people died in the floods, one of them a 14-year-old boy who was electrocuted when he stepped into a puddle in the Balat area. He was rushed to hospital but medical personnel were unable to save him, officials said.
