Heavy snowfall in western Turkey

* Photos: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Heavy snowfall has hit several provinces across western Turkey.

Scheduled for today (February 15), face-to-face classes across İstanbul have been suspended until February 17 due to expected heavy snowfall, the Governor's Office of İstanbul said yesterday.

Nearly 5,000 students in 73 schools across İstanbul were expected to start face-to-face classes as of February 15 but the decision has been postponed.

People with disabilities working in public institutions and organizations, those with chronic diseases, and pregnant staff have also been granted administrative leave during the specified period, without the need for an additional instruction or request, according to the statement.

Heavy snowfall and storms are expected on Monday and Tuesday in İstanbul, as reported by the General Directorate of Meteorology.

Heavy snowfall continued all through the day and night in İstanbul, causing trees to topple down and electricity to be cut off in some districts.

As the tent of a gym hall of a high school in Eyüpsultan has collapsed due to the heavy snowfall, six vehicles have been damaged.

Trees have toppled down in the İstinye Neighborhood in Sarıyer district and Acıbadem Neighborhood in Kadıköy district. The trees have been removed by the municipality and fire brigade teams.

While six trees have collapsed in Sancaktepe and Beşiktaş, four trees have toppled down in Sultangazi, three trees in Büyükçekmece, Gaziosmanpaşa, Eyüp and Sarıyer, two trees in Beykoz, Başakşehir, Kadıköy, Kağıthane, Küçükçekmece and Sultanbeyli and one tree in Ataşehir, Beylikdüzü, Silivri, Beyoğlu, Üsküdar, Ümraniye and Maltepe districts of İstanbul.

Snow has closed village roads

As a result of heavy snowfall in western Turkey, the Domani-İnegöl highway has been closed to the passage of heavy tonnage vehicles.

Roads of 125 neighborhoods in Balıkesir province have also been closed by snowfall: Eight in Balya, 31 in Bigadiç, 16 in Dursunbey, two in Erdek, 16 in Gönen, four in İvrindi, 20 in Savaştepe, 26 in Sındırgı and two in Susurluk.

Face-to-face education has also been postponed for a day in Karabük, Bartın and Uşak provinces. (RT/DŞ/SD)