Lightning struck a skyscraper in the Istanbul Financial Center, in the Atasehir district, on the Asian side of the city, during a severe storm that began on the evening of Monday, November 2, and intensified in the early morning hours.
The lightning struck the roof of the building, as successive flashes of lightning lit up the sky over Istanbul, causing smoke to rise from the complex’s lightning rod.
Son Dakika | İstanbul Ataşehir Finans Merkezi’ne yıldırım düştü. https://t.co/JThWqnyw9r
— Hava Forum (@HavaForum) November 2, 2026
The heavy rainfall caused water to pool on streets and alleys in various neighborhoods of Istanbul, creating traffic problems. So far, no official statement has been issued regarding potential damage caused by the lightning strike.
The Istanbul Financial Center is one of Turkey’s largest financial infrastructure projects and houses, among other things, the headquarters of state-owned banks. The complex was inaugurated in April 2023 and is promoted by the Turkish government as a key part of its strategy to establish Istanbul as an international financial center.
İstanbul’da etkili olan yağış sırasında Çamlıca Kulesi’ne ve İstanbul Finans Merkezi’ne peş peşe yıldırım düştü. https://t.co/WVCdEQC2Jl
— Asayiş Berkemal (@asayisberkemal0) November 2, 2026
Source: Proto Thema
