Istanbul floods kill two after record rain, officials say

Flooding in Istanbul killed two people as Turkey's largest city struggled with what officials said was its heaviest rainfall since records began in 1942.

Istanbul governor Davut Gul said the rain, which began on Wednesday morning and intensified through the day, caused flash floods across the city. One of the two people killed was a 14-year-old boy who was electrocuted when he stepped into a puddle in the Balat area, officials said. Three other people were being treated in hospital.

Gul said schools across Istanbul would remain closed until Monday. He urged people to stay home unless necessary and told residents in basement properties to spend the night on safer, higher floors. He also warned people to avoid stream beds, underpasses and other areas at risk of flooding.

The transport ministry said 43 flights bound for Istanbul Airport on the Black Sea were diverted, along with three flights heading to Sabiha Gokcen airport on the Asian side. Sabiha Gokcen also temporarily suspended take-offs because of strong winds, according to a ministry statement carried by Anadolu.

Turkey's AFAD disaster agency set up a crisis desk to manage incidents linked to the rain. By Wednesday night, it had recorded 1,277 flooding incidents, 15 landslides, 47 stranded people and two roofs blown off.

The heavy rain was expected to continue over the weekend.