The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement extending the UAE’s sympathy to the families of those who died in the floods as well as to the Turkish government and its people while wishing a swift recovery to all those injured in the disaster. The statement described the event as a tragedy and underscored the close ties between the two nations during times of hardship. Turkish authorities had reported multiple fatalities and widespread disruption from the severe weather that struck the Marmara region earlier in the week.
Heavy rainfall starting October 13 triggered flash floods and landslides across Istanbul, Kocaeli, Bursa, Bilecik and Yalova, with Istanbul recording its highest precipitation levels in more than eight decades, according to the Istanbul Governor’s Office. Some districts saw more than 270 millimeters of rain accumulate, overwhelming drainage systems and submerging roads, homes and businesses. The governor’s office noted that emergency services fielded nearly 10,000 calls for assistance, the majority of them from Istanbul where over 8,800 incidents were logged.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül reported that at least three people died directly from the flooding, including a 14-year-old boy electrocuted after stepping into a puddle in the Fatih district and a 34-year-old man who slipped and struck his head while trying to cross a flooded street in Sariyer. A third victim’s body was recovered in Kagithane after being swept away by floodwaters, while search efforts continued for several others initially listed as missing, the governor’s office said. Local officials indicated that a construction worker also perished during cleanup operations, bringing the regional toll higher.
Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority teams, working alongside municipal crews, the coast guard and gendarmerie, rescued more than 3,000 stranded individuals and provided temporary shelter in public facilities, according to an IFRC emergency overview. More than 46,000 personnel, 2,200 vehicles and a fleet of boats were deployed across affected zones to address flooding, fallen trees and collapsed infrastructure. The interior minister added that 48 landslides and 53 retaining wall failures were documented in Istanbul alone, with damage reported to around 300 businesses.
Schools across Istanbul and several neighboring provinces remained closed for multiple days as forecasts warned of continued heavy rain and strong winds through mid-October, the Turkish State Meteorological Service indicated. Flights at Istanbul Airport faced significant disruptions, with dozens diverted or cancelled amid the chaos on the ground. Authorities urged residents to avoid non-essential travel and to steer clear of underpasses and low-lying areas at risk of sudden inundation.
The UAE’s message aligns with its longstanding pattern of support for Türkiye during natural disasters, including substantial humanitarian assistance provided after the 2023 earthquakes that devastated parts of the country, according to records from both governments. In the current case, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized its hope that Türkiye would overcome the impacts of the floods with minimal further loss. Turkish officials continued damage assessments across the Marmara region while recovery operations remained underway.
