Flash floods leave parts of Istanbul underwater

ISTANBUL

Heavy rains, which hit Istanbul on Dec. 18 and 19, created havoc across the city, causing flood in a number of districts, leaving 12 people stranded.

Following the heavy rain, due to the overflow of the Ayazağa stream on the European side, four houses were flooded and 12 people, including six children, were stranded.

Some houses were flooded over a meter in height. Citizens woke up to the flood early in the morning of Dec. 19 and informed the fire department about the situation. The fire squad saved the stranded citizens out of their houses by carrying them on their backs.

“The [Ayazağa] stream is flooded. This happened the previous week too and the cleaning teams had come,” a stranded resident said.

“Four houses are in bad shape. Our furniture is ruined. We have been dealing with this for years. People are victimized, they have no place to go,” another citizen said.

Heavy downpours also hit the Cendere Stream in the district of Kağıthane, causing a rise in the water level. Vehicles had difficulty going further. The district of Arnavutköy was flooded as well. Shops were filled with rain water and roads were engulfed with floodwater.

Meanwhile, Istanbul got its first snowfall on Dec. 19, especially its districts of Beylikdüzü, Avcılar, Büyükçekmece and Esenyurt.

High winds from the north and northeast are expected to continue, authorities have said.