Heavy snowfall in Turkey’s eastern provinces has cut off access to 2,666 villages, with road crews working to clear the roads, the Demirören news agency reported on Thursday.
The snowfall, which began earlier this week, has disrupted transportation across the region, cutting off villages in Erzurum, Erzincan, Ağrı, Muş, Ardahan, Kars and Iğdır. According to officials, Erzurum has the highest number of blocked roads with 1,403 affected villages, followed by Erzincan with 479, Ağrı with 303, Muş with 211, Ardahan with 119, Kars with 100 and Iğdır with 51.
Provincial special administration teams, municipal workers and highway crews are working to reopen roads. In city centers, municipal teams have focused on clearing streets and sidewalks.
The Turkish State Meteorological Service reported snow depths of 45 centimeters (18 inches) in Ardahan, 35 centimeters (14 inches) in Erzurum, 22 centimeters (9 inches) in Ağrı, 20 centimeters (8 inches) in Muş, 10 centimeters (4 inches) in Erzincan and 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) in Kars. In ski resorts, snow accumulation has reached 161 centimeters (63 inches) in Erzurum’s Palandöken, 121 centimeters (48 inches) in Konaklı, 120 centimeters (47 inches) in Erzincan’s Ergan, 122 centimeters (48 inches) in Kars’ Sarıkamış and 30 centimeters (12 inches) in Ardahan’s Yalnızçam.
Heavy snowfall and blizzards also disrupted traffic on the Muş-Solhan-Bingöl highway, where stranded motorists received food and drinks from Turkish Red Crescent teams. Road crews are continuing their efforts to keep the roads passable.
Winter storms frequently disrupt transportation in eastern Turkey, where heavy snowfall and harsh weather conditions are common during the colder months. Authorities regularly deploy road crews to clear blocked routes, while residents in remote villages often face extended periods of isolation. As efforts to reopen roads continue, officials warn of further snowfall and urge caution for those traveling in affected areas.