A powerful wave of heavy snowfall and blizzards has swept across Türkiye, closing off transportation access to 2,985 settlements nationwide.

Authorities report that village roads in multiple regions have been shut down, with teams from municipalities, Provincial Special Administrations, and the Highways Directorate working around the clock to clear the snow and restore traffic flow.

In the Eastern Anatolia Region, where the snowfall began on Tuesday and intensified, a staggering 2,921 village roads have been rendered impassable. The closures include 303 roads in Ağrı, 1,403 in Erzurum, 479 in Erzincan, 211 in Muş, 119 in Ardahan, 100 in Kars, 51 in Iğdır, and 255 in Tunceli. Snow accumulation has reached significant levels, with Erzurum’s Palandöken recording 161 cm, Konaklı at 121 cm, Erzincan’s Ergan at 120 cm, Kars’ Sarıkamış at 122 cm, and Ardahan’s Yalnızçam at 30 cm.

Residents in affected areas have taken matters into their own hands. In Ağrı, citizens were seen shoveling snow from their homes and businesses. Local shopkeeper Muhammed Tandır remarked: "We were expecting spring, but winter has returned with force." Another resident, Muhammed Bulut, noted the stark contrast in weather, saying: "Conditions today are completely different from yesterday."

Beyond Eastern Anatolia, the storm has disrupted other regions. In Bartın, 12 village roads were closed due to snowfall that began Wednesday morning, while salting and shoveling efforts are underway on the Bartın-Zonguldak, Bartın-Karabük, and Bartın-Kastamonu highways to combat icing. In Gümüşhane, 52 village roads remain inaccessible, with the snowfall significantly impacting daily life.

A dramatic rescue unfolded on the Tunceli-Erzincan highway, where drivers were stranded at the 2,000-meter-altitude Cankurtaran pass amid sharp bends and heavy snow. After calling the 112 Emergency Call Center for assistance, teams from Highways, AFAD, and the gendarmerie were deployed. Vehicles were towed off the road with ropes, and stranded travelers were transported to an accommodation center in Pülümür district.

Efforts to reopen the closed roads continue unabated, though authorities have not provided a timeline for when normal transportation might resume. The widespread disruptions underscore the severity of this late winter storm as it grips much of Türkiye. (ILKHA)