Four dead as Istanbul suffers worst floods in 80 years

At least four people have died after Istanbul suffered its worst floods in more than 80 years, Turkish officials have said.

The body of a 66-year-old man was found under a bridge in Istanbul's Sariyer district on Friday, adding to three other fatalities reported earlier, including a 14-year-old who was electrocuted after stepping in a puddle.

A 34-year-old slipped on a footpath and hit their head, while the body of a third person was discovered near another park in the Kagithane district, officials previously said.

In the 48 hours up to Thursday morning, Turkey's largest city was deluged by more rain than the combined average for September and October, the state-run Anadolu Agency said, leaving homes and businesses flooded and water covering streets and parks.

Some vehicles were submerged, others washed away, and many ended up piled up at the bottom of hills across the city of almost 16 million people.

At least 2,700 people have been forced to leave their homes as schools closed and residents were advised to stay at home except for necessary travel.

Interior minister Mustafa Ciftci, speaking from one of the areas hit hardest by Wednesday night's downpour, said: "We are trying our best to help our citizens, but we are also experiencing the biggest flood disaster since 1942."

As he inspected the damage in Sariyer's Ayazaga neighborhood, around 93 miles (150km) east of Istanbul, Mr Ciftci told reporters that four people were still missing, although he was speaking before the man's body was discovered.

There were 9,850 reports of damage and other issues related to the floods, the minister said, with 46,000 workers cleaning up debris and helping people.

There are concerns that the floods were exacerbated by urban development close to waterways.

Murat Kurum, the minister for the environment, urbanisation and climate change, who was with Mr Ciftci, said that dealing with the problem was "essential".

Mr Kurum, who will chair the UN climate change conference COP31 next month in the Turkish city of Antalya, also linked the floods to the effects of climate change.

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"Combating climate change is not a choice, but a necessity," he said.

More rain, described as "heavy and intense", is forecast for Istanbul and four nearby provinces over the weekend, the General Directorate of Meteorology warned.

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