Storms moving across Turkey could move northward as a winter weather system, bringing snow, wind and rain. On Tuesday afternoon, the snow covered Turkish Alpine National Park and the town of Reyhanli, southeast of the capital, Ankara. By early Wednesday, winds had been recorded as high as 80 miles per hour and temperatures had dropped as low as 16 degrees Fahrenheit. On the Mediterranean Sea coast in the region of Antalya, wind gusts reached 70 miles per hour, according to the Turkish Weather Service. The passing storms may result in power outages and downed trees, according to reports.
At least six people were killed and 52 injured in accidents or while driving or standing in lines at gas stations as the storm passed through Wednesday, according to the Turkish news agency Anadolu. In a series of mid-day tweets, the prime minister’s office said several accidents were reported in Istanbul and Ankara and that emergency operations had been launched. The government also reminded citizens in a statement to stay at home.
The Ministry of Environment and Urban Development ordered all buildings to remain at their foundations and all structures connected to them to halt operations. Offices and shops in Istanbul closed early to avoid possible damage.
— Abby Barewicz