Schools in 34 provinces will remain closed on Monday as heavy snowfall and snowstorms have paralyzed life across Turkey.
The governors of İstanbul, Siva, Kırıkkale, Kayseri, Niğde, Kahramanmaraş, Bilecik, Çankırı, Kırşehir, Ordu, Manisa, Sinop, Çorum, Amasya, Aksaray, Sakarya, Bolu, Bursa, Çanakkale, Zonguldak, Düzce, Tokat, Yalova, Kastamonu, Kırklareli, Nevşehir, Edirne, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, Balıkesir, Yozgat, Samsun, Konya and Bartın provinces announced on Sunday that schools would be closed on Monday due to sub-zero temperatures and snow depth.
Students in İstanbul wrote to Governor Vasip Şahin on Twitter demanding that schools be closed on Jan. 9, with many tweets noting how hard it is for students to go to school due to heavy snow.
Several airlines, including Turkish Airlines, have canceled dozens of flights from İstanbul Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen airports due to poor weather conditions. Turkish Airlines announced on Sunday that it canceled 633 domestic and international flights on Sunday both at Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen airports.
İstanbul’s fast ferry and inter-city sea bus services were also affected by the snow and high winds.
MALATYA, TURKEY – DECEMBER 14: People walk on a snowy road as heavy snowfall hits Turkey’s Malatya province on Dec. 14, 2016. Emrah Gokmen / Anadolu AgencyHAKKARI, TURKEY – DEC. 1: An old man is seen as heavy snowfall wreaks havoc in Hakkari on Dec. 1, 2016. There is no transportation to nine villages and 22 towns due to the snow. Yilmaz Kazandioglu / Anadolu AgencyBOLU, TURKEY – DEC. 19 : People walk on a frozen lake in Golcuk Natural Park in Turkey’s Bolu district on Dec. 19, 2016. Mehmet Emin Gürbüz / Anadolu AgencyBITLIS, TURKEY – DEC. 26: A car covered with snow is seen during severe winter conditions in Turkey’s Bitlis province on Dec. 26, 2016. Roads were closed in at least 210 residential areas due to heavy snow and poor weather conditions. Ibrahim Yaldiz / Anadolu AgencyISTANBUL, TURKEY – JANUARY 07: Seagulls are seen in front of a tram as it moves along snow-covered tracks during heavy snowfall in Istanbul on Jan. 7, 2017. Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman / Anadolu AgencyNEVSEHIR, TURKEY – JANUARY 06: A hot air balloon flies over snow-covered Cappadocia, a region in Central Anatolia known for its fairy chimneys, on Jan. 6, 2017 in Nevsehir, Turkey. Sercan Kucuksahin / Anadolu AgencyNEVSEHIR, TURKEY – JANUARY 06: Hot air balloons fly over snow-covered Cappadocia, a region in Central Anatolia known for its fairy chimneys, on Jan. 6, 2017 in Nevsehir, Turkey. Sercan Kucuksahin / Anadolu AgencyISTANBUL, TURKEY – JANUARY 07: People walk on snowy sidewalks next to the Bosporus during heavy snowfall in Istanbul on Jan. 7, 2017. Arif Hudaverdi Yaman / Anadolu AgencyISTANBUL, TURKEY – JANUARY 07: Docked city line ferries are seen on the Bosporus during heavy snowfall in Istanbul on Jan. 7, 2017. Arif Hudaverdi Yaman / Anadolu AgencyISTANBUL, TURKEY – JANUARY 07: Airliners are seen on the apron of Ataturk International Airport during heavy snowfall in Istanbul on Jan. 7, 2017. Planes are being diverted to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, and flights have been canceled due to poor weather conditions. Izzet Taskiran / Anadolu Agency
