ISTANBUL - A strong snowstorm forced authorities to close Istanbul Strait to shipping traffic on Thursday.
Authorities closed the Bosporus to traffic at noon Thursday along with Canakkale strait.
Snowstorm paralyzed daily life in Istanbul and in many parts of the country.
Power cuts were seen in Istanbul and water could not be given to many districts in the city. Snow blanketed the roads of Istanbul, slowing traffic to a crawl. Totally 350 traffic accidents took place in the city. International and domestic flights were delayed by at least one or two hours, and domestic flights to some airports were also cancelled during the day.
Schools and even some universities were also closed.
Gales battered other parts Turkey, knocking minarets off mosques in the southern city of Antalya, while rescue teams tried to reach the crew of a small cargo ship that ran aground near the Mediterranean resort of Kemer.
The heavy snowfall also paralyzed daily life in western Turkey.
(Öª) 22.01.2004