Heavy snow blanketed Istanbul for a second day on Sunday (Jan 8), resulting in the cancellation of hundreds of flights and more disruption for thousands of travellers. 

The snowfall was forecast to lessen later in the day but temperatures well below freezing, unusually cold even for the time of year, were expected throughout the week. Flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) cancelled over 600 flights - including all domestic routes until the evening - as efforts continued to clear snow from its hub of Ataturk International Airport. 

THY chief executive Bilal Eksi said on his Twitter account that over 10,000 travellers unable to reach Istanbul had been accommodated in hotels while well over 5,000 who could not leave were accommodated in the city. ---AFP

Source:NNA