Heavy rain shuts down Istanbul, causing flooding and 2 deaths

ISTANBUL (AP) — A heavy downpour has shut down Istanbul, flooded homes and roads and killed at least two people. Rescuers worked overnight to save hundreds of people stranded at their workplaces, while bystanders helped countless others.

The downpour Wednesday night flooded homes and businesses and inundated roads and underpasses, stranding vehicles and causing traffic chaos in Turkey’s largest city.

Local media reported two deaths. A 14-year-old was electrocuted after stepping in a puddle at a park in the Fatih district, and a 34-year-old slipped on a sidewalk in the Sariyer district and hit their head.

Heavy rain was still falling Thursday morning.

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality said some areas had the highest amount of rain since 1985.

The governor’s office said education would be suspended Thursday and some state employees would be placed on leave. It advised residents to stay home unless travel was absolutely necessary and for people living in basement apartments to spend the night elsewhere.

Motorcycles, meanwhile, were barred from traffic.