Istanbul freak storm: Plane hit by 'golf ball-sized hail stones' makes emergency landing
A DEVASTATING storm has injured 10 people in Istanbul and forced a passenger jet into making an emergency landing.
Storms in Istanbul leave cars stranded in floods
The thunderstorm, which lasted only 20 minutes, destroyed buildings, paralysed traffic and caused flash floods across the Turkish city.
Hail stones as "large as golf balls" battered a passenger jet forcing it to make an emergency landing in the Aegean city of Canakkale.
The freak weather damaged the paint on the Turkish Airline jet's nose, with cracks visible on the pilots' window.
Turkish Airlines jet with damage to its nose and cracks on pilots window following storm damage
The jet was one of 16 to be rerouted from their planned destination of Ataturk airport, Istanbul, the pro-government Anadolu news agency reported.
According to officials, over 7,000 emergency workers were deployed to help in the aftermath of the storm which uprooted 230 trees, destroyed 90 roofs and sparked fires across the city.
A lightning strike left a plastic store in the Kagithane district ablaze and it is feared further storms may occur through the night.
A plastic store on fire, in the Kagithane district, following a lightning strike
Freak storm left vehicles damaged after Istanbul was hit by rain and winds
Flooding left a a city bus half submerged near a bridge in the city's Unkapani district.
People abandoned their vehicles following flash floods during rush hour and roads were swamped by deep water.
Flooding left a a city bus half submerged near a bridge in the city's Unkapani district
Hail stones as 'large as golf balls' battered a passenger jet
Hail the size of golf balls also damaged some windows and car windshields.
It is the second time in nine days that heavy rains and winds have pounded Istanbul, flooding streets and disrupting traffic, but without causing casualties.