Snow, floods hit Syria as winter storm forces class suspensions

ISTANBUL

Snowfall and flash floods battered Syria on Wednesday, as authorities suspended classes in multiple provinces and placed civil defense teams on high alert amid a severe winter storm.

A snowstorm that struck northern Syria early Wednesday worsened conditions for internally displaced families living in camps across Idlib and the countryside of Aleppo, where limited resources left residents struggling to cope with freezing temperatures.

Government-led response efforts, spearheaded by the civil defense, sought to provide assistance within available means, according to the state-run Alikhbariyah TV.

Displacement camps in the city of Azaz, northwest of Aleppo, faced particularly dire humanitarian conditions as the snowstorm continued, with shortages of heating supplies and severe gaps in aid, exacerbating hardships for families, especially children and the elderly, the channel said.

Syria’s Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management said that civil defense teams had been working since dawn to reopen roads closed by snowfall and heavy rain in several provinces.

Traffic remained difficult in some areas, and roads were blocked by snow accumulation and flooding in Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia and Hama, with crews working to reopen them, the ministry said.

In Latakia, provincial authorities said heavy rainfall caused flooding in several shelters and residential buildings in the southern Raml area and other neighborhoods.

Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed Al-Saleh said more than 100 civil defense teams have been deployed nationwide to respond to the storm, with the heaviest impact reported in Aleppo, Idlib, Tartus, Latakia and Hama.

Teams have responded to more than 110 incidents, including clearing snow-blocked roads, draining floodwater from streets, pumping water out of homes and handling more than 15 traffic accidents caused by vehicles skidding on icy roads, he added on the US social media company X.

Saleh said emergency teams remain on full alert and continue field operations to respond to any new incidents.

Authorities monitoring the weather around the clock urged residents to exercise caution, follow safety instructions and contact emergency hotlines if assistance is needed.

On Tuesday, the provinces of Latakia, Aleppo, Idlib, Tartus and Hama announced the suspension of classes on Wednesday because of the severe weather, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

Syria’s General Directorate of Meteorology said the country would see heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in some areas.

It warned that poor weather conditions could persist into Thursday, with frost expected in mountainous areas and likely fog formation.