A severe winter system sweeping in from Russia has brought daily life to a standstill across large parts of eastern and central Türkiye, cutting off hundreds of rural roads, stranding vehicles, and isolating remote settlements as temperatures plunged and heavy snowfall intensified.

The relentless onslaught of heavy snow and plunging temperatures has cut off hundreds of rural roads, stranded vehicles, and isolated numerous remote settlements, prompting large-scale emergency responses.

The eastern provinces have borne the brunt of the disruption. In Hakkari, authorities reported 72 settlements, including 20 villages, rendered inaccessible by heavy snow, with key inter-district roads closed. Kars faced blizzard conditions, cutting off 41 villages and stranding several trucks on icy inclines. Emergency teams there successfully rescued 10 bus passengers trapped near a mountain pass.

Northern regions were also heavily impacted. In Kastamonu, snowfall shut down 202 village roads, particularly in mountainous districts, with road crews working to reopen them as conditions allow. The critical Bolu Mountain pass, a major artery linking northern Türkiye to Istanbul, faced significant disruptions. Traffic was temporarily affected before crews managed to reopen it to heavy vehicles following intensive clearing and salting operations.

The crisis has turned emergency services into lifelines for isolated communities, particularly for those requiring urgent medical care. In Siirt, an 8-year-old child was transported to hospital only after crews cleared a blocked road. A similar operation in neighbouring Bitlis ensured a 7-month-old baby with a fever could receive medical attention once village access was restored.

Adding to the dangers, the severe weather in Şırnak province was accompanied by thunderstorms. A lightning strike damaged the top floor of a residential building, though no injuries were reported.

With the winter system continuing to grip much of the country, authorities across all affected regions are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel, exercise extreme caution on icy roads, and heed all official weather warnings. The widespread disruptions underscore the storm's severe impact as Türkiye battles the intense freeze. (ILKHA)