Turkey surrenders to snow

One person died in each of the central Turkish provinces of Tokat and Kayseri and another in the eastern province of Van as temperatures fell as low as minus 28-Celsius degrees overnight in some regions.
Schools have been ordered closed in 17 provinces due to heavy snow falls. These include in the capital Ankara, Konya, Afyon, Burdur, Niğde, Gaziantep, Aksaray, Karaman, Eski?ehir, Nevşehir, Kayseri, Elazığ, Kırşehir, Diyarbakır and Malatya.
In Turkey’s most populous city, Istanbul, there are long delays in traffic as snowfalls have closed many roads and caused hazardous conditions throughout the city. Istanbul’s school children have been given an extended weekend, with authorities ordering classes to be cancelled for the day.