Insurers receive 897 initial flood claims across Istanbul and three other provinces

In context: this report covers a source published on 18 Oct 2026.

Insurers in Turkiye had received 897 flood and water-damage claims from Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli and Yalova by 15 October, Middle East Insurance Review reported on 18 October. The count comes from the Insurance Information and Monitoring Centre (SBM) and was cited by Ahmet Yasar, president of the Insurance Association of Turkiye (TSB). Istanbul accounts for 838 of the total. The report gave no monetary loss estimate.

Property business carries most of the early load: 776 of the Istanbul claims were made under fire policies and 62 under comprehensive motor policies. Yasar described the count as "just the initial reports" and said the full picture will emerge as more claims arrive and loss adjusters finish their work.

Low take-up limits how much of the damage reaches insurers. Istanbul has about 940,000 residential, commercial and industrial property policies, and property cover in the city is estimated at 17-20%. Comprehensive motor is more widespread, at about 2.8 million vehicles or roughly 43%.

The rain began on 13 October. Istanbul Governor Davut Gul said it was the heaviest in 84 years, with 261 kg of water per square metre in the worst-hit areas. At least five people died and floodwater carried away hundreds of vehicles. Experts quoted in the report pointed to urban planning, dense concrete development and old drainage.