Rescue crews in Istanbul and Athens have cleared roads that came to a standstill after a massive cold front and snow storms hit much of Turkey and Greece. The weather left countless people and vehicles in both cities stranded in freezing conditions.
Highways and roads in and around Istanbul became clogged on Monday after the storm pounded the city of about 16 million people that straddles the European and Asian continents — accumulating more than 80 centimeters of snow in some areas.
In Athens, rescue crews freed around 200-300 drivers who were trapped on a major highway that runs across Athens and connects the Greek capital with the city’s international airport. Authorities had ordered all but essential public and private businesses shut on Tuesday, and have extended that for Wednesday as well in the wider Athens area and several other regions of Greece. Coronavirus vaccination appointments for Wednesday were also being rescheduled for later dates.
“Nothing is moving. The snow ploughs can’t even reach us,” Ahmet Odabasi, 40, one of thousands of travelers who was stranded overnight on a highway west of Istanbul, told The Associated Press by telephone earlier. “It was a very difficult night and we faced unprecedented conditions,” Civil Protection and Climate Change Minister Christos Stylianides said. “I want to again express an apology from the state for all the difficulties that the drivers faced.”
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