Heavy rain battered Istanbul, with one of the consequences being the flooding of the Phoenix Studios complex in the Ayazğa district. Turkish actress Demet Özdemir and a popular singer were among those present in the building at the time, alongside several other people.
The water reached a height of approximately two metres within the complex, and the electricity went out. At the time of the flood, between 200 and 250 people were in the complex, including actors, workers, and production crew members.
Due to flooded passageways and the danger of strong water currents, leaving the building on their own was no longer safe. Those trapped therefore retreated to the upper floors and waited for help, while rescue teams were initially unable to approach the building with standard vehicles.
Demet Özdemir and Murat Boz addressed the public via social media. Their posts were a call to the relevant authorities to organise the evacuation of people trapped in the studio as soon as possible, with the actress warning that the water was still rising and that the situation could not be resolved without urgent intervention.
Relevant authorities were involved in the rescue operation. Rescuers reached the trapped individuals by boat, transporting them in groups to safe locations, and heavy machinery was used in the subsequent phase of the operation.
Demet Özdemir, Murat Boz, and other people from the complex were successfully evacuated. No one was injured in the incident, and the actress thanked everyone who had taken part in the rescue. She specifically highlighted members of the Turkish Coast Guard, the AKUT rescue organisation, and the Gendarmerie.
