Istanbul [Turkey], February 6: As Istanbul braces for a snowstorm, the governor of the city has banned scooter and motorbike rides until further notice.
They are not allowed on the roads for the time being, the governor of the Turkish metropolis, Ali Yerlikaya, announced on Twitter on Sunday.
SabihaGokcen Airport on the Asian side of the city said air traffic would be reduced by 20% from early evening due to the weather conditions. Fewer flights than usual were also planned for Monday and Tuesday, it said. Turkish Airlines earlier urged travellers to check the latest updates due to possible flight cancellations.
The General Meteorological Directorate warned of heavy snowfall, rain, storms and ice in Istanbul from Sunday evening. The authority also issued a weather warning for other regions of the country.
Heavy snowfall was to be expected in Anatolia and in the east of the country. People living near the Black Sea had to be prepared for heavy rain and partly snowfall as well as storms. The authorities also issued a storm warning for the western Aegean. Winds could reach speeds of up to 75 kilometres per hour, it said.
Last year, heavy snowfall had led to considerable restrictions in air traffic at Istanbul International Airport.
Source: Qatar Tribune