ISTANBUL, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A snowstorm has battered Istanbul since Thursday, disrupting daily life, causing delays in air, sea, and land transportation, and forcing schools to close for a second day.
The storm brought a significant drop in temperature and heavy snowfall, peaking on Friday.
Disruptions were reported at Istanbul's two major airports, namely Istanbul Airport on the European side and Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the Asian side.
Snow-covered runways caused some flights to circle in the air, with some aircraft reporting fuel emergencies.
Sabiha Gokcen Airport authorities said 45 percent of Friday's flights were canceled, along with 30 percent on Saturday and 10 percent on Sunday. Turkish Airlines also reported cancellations at both Sabiha Gokcen and Istanbul Airports.
Local media reported minor accidents on icy roads, while ferry services experienced cancellations and delays.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul announced that all educational institutions in the city would remain closed on Friday. Motorcycle vehicles and couriers were also banned from traffic from Friday midnight until further notice.
The Istanbul Disaster Response Plan is in operation across all 39 districts, with efforts to salt roads and clear snow-covered areas ongoing, Gul said.
The Istanbul Governor's Office said over 1,000 homeless people had been placed in shelters.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu urged citizens to avoid driving, use public transport, or refrain from going outside unless absolutely necessary.
Authorities forecast the snowstorm will last until Monday morning, with temperatures fluctuating below zero at night. ■