The storm, which lasted about 20 minutes, bombarding the city with hailstones the size of golfballs, paralysed traffic and caused flash floods that submerged cars in some streets.
The high winds toppled a large crane that landed on oil barrels, causing an explosion and fire. The fire was taken under control after firefighters arrived at the scene. A small depot also caught fire after being hit by lightning, but there were no casualties.
işte o an! #yagmur #İstanbul #yagmur #yangın #haydarpaşa pic.twitter.com/kbNH1LTxsz
— Sim.giL (@simmgil) 27 Temmuz 2017
At least 10 people were reported injured on Thursday after a severe summer storm hit Turkey's İstanbul, knocking down a wall and trees and flooding the Turkish city's streets and underpasses. Part of a stone wall surrounding a cemetery was demolished in the storm, injuring two people. Television footage showed rescue crews and residents helping each other to remove the stones in case people were trapped beneath the rubble.
Ayrılık Şelalesi #yağmur pic.twitter.com/HJ5mpbWDRE
— Emre Seyrek (@EmreSeyrek51) 27 Temmuz 2017
Heavy rainfall disrupted the evening rush hour traffic, stranding vehicles in flooded streets. Authorities temporarily closed down the Eurasia Tunnel, which connects İstanbul's Asian and European sides under the Bosporus strait, as a precaution. Sixteen planes which had been heading to the city's Atatürk airport were routed to other destinations.
City hall said more than 7,000 people had been mobilised to deal with the aftermath of the storm. Around 230 trees were uprooted, nearly 90 roofs collapsed and a number of fires broke out but were quickly extinguished, it said in a statement.
It was the second time in 10 days that heavy rains inundated streets and caused havoc.
