Vehicles run on a road in Istanbul, Turkey, on Jan. 25, 2022. Istanbul announced a ban on private vehicles from the roads on Tuesday due to a strong snowfall. (Xinhua/Shadati)
ISTANBUL, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's largest city of Istanbul announced a ban on private vehicles from the roads on Tuesday due to a strong snowfall.
Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya said in a statement in the early morning that private vehicles would not be allowed to enter the traffic until 1:00 p.m. (1000 GMT), adding that only public transport would be operational across the city of around 16 million people.
Thousands of people were stranded on roads during the rush hours on Monday late afternoon when the snow blizzard heavily hit the financial hub.
The Istanbul Governor Office said that more than 5,000 citizens were evacuated while over 3,000 others were taken to hotels, guesthouses and other shelters until morning.
Local authorities barred the entry and exit of the city due to the blizzard. The Istanbul Airport suspended all flights until 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, while departures from Istanbul's biggest bus terminals were also halted.
Yerlikaya twittered that adverse weather conditions would continue on Tuesday, citing the latest meteorological reports. ■
Snow-covered vehicles are seen in Istanbul, Turkey, on Jan. 25, 2022. Istanbul announced a ban on private vehicles from the roads on Tuesday due to a strong snowfall. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Vehicles run on a road in Istanbul, Turkey, on Jan. 25, 2022. Istanbul announced a ban on private vehicles from the roads on Tuesday due to a strong snowfall. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Snow-covered vehicles are seen in Istanbul, Turkey, on Jan. 25, 2022. Istanbul announced a ban on private vehicles from the roads on Tuesday due to a strong snowfall. (Xinhua/Shadati)
A bus runs on a road in Istanbul, Turkey, on Jan. 25, 2022. Istanbul announced a ban on private vehicles from the roads on Tuesday due to a strong snowfall. (Xinhua/Shadati)
