Authorities reported that at least 23 people were injured in storm-related incidents in Gaziantep, including three individuals hurt when the roof of an Olympic preparation center was blown off.

Conditions worsened in neighboring Şanlıurfa, where the storm caused widespread destruction. A cargo pickup truck overturned on a bridge due to strong winds, a mosque minaret collapsed, and floating restaurants broke loose from their moorings.

A 22-year-old woman, Nur Çakmak, lost her life after a solar panel, torn from a rooftop by the storm, struck the car she was traveling in. At least 28 others were reported injured across the province.

In response to safety concerns, schools were temporarily closed in several districts, including Birecik and Viranşehir in Şanlıurfa, as well as Şahinbey, Şehitkamil, and Nizip in Gaziantep.

Meanwhile, western Türkiye experienced a sharp and unexpected return to winter conditions. In Afyonkarahisar and surrounding areas, heavy snowfall led to the closure of key highways to heavy vehicles, including routes connecting Afyonkarahisar with Uşak, Sandıklı, and Ankara. Education was suspended for one day in multiple districts, and transport disruptions affected regional travel.

Meteorologists say the unusual combination of severe storms in the southeast and snowfall in the west reflects broader climate instability. Turkish State Meteorological Service has warned that winter-like conditions are expected to persist for several more days across parts of the country, with additional rainfall and snowfall forecast.

Climate experts point to a significant rise in extreme weather events in Türkiye over the past 15 years. They noted that shifting rainfall patterns linked to climate change are increasing the frequency of floods, landslides, and severe storms, particularly in the Black Sea region, which accounts for more than half of such incidents.

Recent preliminary assessments from local authorities also indicate growing economic losses due to infrastructure damage, agricultural disruption, and temporary business closures in affected provinces. Emergency teams continue damage assessments while municipal services work to clear debris, restore transportation routes, and secure damaged buildings.

Experts are increasingly calling for climate-resilient urban planning, warning that rapid and unregulated construction can exacerbate the impact of extreme weather by accelerating water runoff and weakening natural drainage systems.

Despite the current cold spell, forecasters expect temperatures to gradually rise by midweek, signaling a return to more typical spring conditions in major cities such as Istanbul and Ankara. However, authorities caution that the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events are likely to increase, urging preparedness and long-term adaptation measures. (ILKHA)