Izmir Submerged: Torrential Rain Paralyses Turkish City

The inadequacy of the existing urban infrastructure is consistently identified as a key vulnerability. İzmir's drainage and sewage systems, much of which were engineered decades ago, are often overwhelmed by the sheer volume of water delivered during a modern extreme rainfall event. Creeks and natural stream channels, some of which have been narrowed, covered, or built over during urban development, rapidly burst their banks. This failure to channelize and convey stormwater effectively transforms low-lying areas, especially neighborhoods like Konak, Balçova, and Foça, into deep, fast-moving temporary lakes.