Apocalyptic scenes from Istanbul as storm kills at least four

Extreme winds created havoc on Nov. 29 in Istanbul, killing at least four people and wounding dozens of others. Footage showed the winds knocking down structures and lifting off roofs and walls around the city.

Duvar English

At least four people, including a foreign national, died and over a dozen were hurt in Istanbul on Nov. 29 due to extreme winds, the governor's office said in a statement.

Strong winds of up to 130 km per hour were felt in Istanbul, according to the country's Meteorology General Directorate (MGM), with extreme conditions also experienced in nearby provinces.

The MGM warned that the winds would continue on Nov. 30.

"Due to the adverse weather conditions caused by southwesterly winds that have been effective in Istanbul since the morning, four people have lost their lives, one of whom was a foreign national and three were our citizens; 19 of our citizens were wounded, three of whom are in critical condition," the Istanbul Governor's Office said in a statement.

The winds have knocked down buildings and lifted concrete slabs off roofs and walls.

A clock tower in the Çatalca district collapsed due to extreme weather. No injures were reported. 

Turkey's flag-carrier Turkish Airlines reported disruptions to its flight schedule, while the Bosphorus Strait has been closed to traffic from both directions.

The Istanbul Governor's Office also announced that schools were suspended for one day.

Authorities later announced that schools were also suspended in the northwestern provinces of Bursa, Yalova, Kocaeli and Sakarya.