Istanbul authorities begin demolitions to prevent flooding

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül conducted inspections in the Ayazağa neighborhood of Sarıyer following severe flooding. Search and rescue operations, coordinated by AFAD and involving the Coast Guard, Gendarmerie, and police, continue to search for three individuals reported missing in the floods.

As part of disaster mitigation and stream reclamation efforts, authorities have begun demolishing structures occupying the stream bed, including a Quran course, a sports facility, and several shops. Officials stated these measures aim to prevent future flooding by removing obstacles to stream improvement. To assist those affected, initial payments of 10,000 lira have been distributed to over 5,000 individuals through the Ministry of Family and Social Services.

In a separate incident in Eskişehir, a demolition project caused a water main to burst on Sivrihisar Street. The resulting flood inundated the basement of a hotel and several nearby businesses. Local shopkeepers expressed frustration, claiming their warnings regarding the demolition of a damaged building were ignored by the responsible firm.