17 January 2016•Update: 18 January 2016
ANKARA
Schools in Istanbul will remain closed Monday due to heavy snowfall, the provincial governor’s office announced Sunday.
According to the office, snowfall in Istanbul, which began Sunday evening, is expected to continue all day long Monday.
Disabled and pregnant public servants were also given a day off due to the snow.
Flights cancelled
Turkish Airlines also announced that it cancelled 315 flights from Istanbul’s Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen airports scheduled for coming Monday and Tuesday due to bad weather.
The airline on its website advised passengers to ring in their call center before leaving for the airport.
“Cancellation announcements cannot be updated instantly. Please do not plan your flight without checking with the call center [444 0 849] or the departure-arrival application first,” it said.
The Turkish flag carrier said 246 national and international flights were cancelled for Monday, while 69 more flights were cancelled that were scheduled for Tuesday.
Heavy snowfall also interrupted a football match between Turkish clubs Besiktas and Mersin Idmanyurdu in the Spor Toto Super Lig at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium in Istanbul Sunday evening.