ISTANBUL: Turkey’s most populated and economic hub Istanbul, historically known as Constaninople, has received heaviest snowfall this winter since 2009 as snow depth reached 120 centimeters during the weekend.
The Istanbul mayor said 7,000 municipality workers were working round-the-clock to keep major city roads open for public. Kadir Topbas said that around 1340 snow clearing vehicles were being used in this connection.
Sources in Istanbul told this scribe that said around 800 international and domestic have been cancelled at the city’s Ataturk (located on European side) and Sabiha Gokcen (situated on Eastern side) airports.
Due to cancellation of the flights, Turkey’s national carrier Turkish Airlines has shifted thousands of passengers stranded at the airports to hotels and guest house.
The Turkish State Meteorological Service has forecast more snowfall for the next week.
