Istanbul suffers its worst floods in 80 years as death toll rises to four and more rain threatens the city

Turkey's interior minister Mustafa Ciftci described Istanbul's flooding as the worst the city has seen since 1942, noting that 48 hours of rain had exceeded the combined totals normally expected across September and October in the metropolis of 16 million. A fourth fatality was confirmed on Friday when a 66-year-old man was found under a bridge in the Sariyer district, and several people remain missing.

A 14-year-old boy died from electrocution after entering floodwater in the Fatih district; elsewhere, vehicles were carried along streets by the surge and some bus passengers were left clinging to their seats as water levels climbed around them.

Around 46,000 workers are engaged in clean-up efforts across Istanbul following close to 9,850 reported incidents of damage, with 2,700 residents rescued from flooded areas during the crisis.

A new weather alert running through midnight Saturday has been issued by authorities, stoking concern about further flash floods, landslides and transport disruption in a city still in the grip of recovery.