A total of 1,176 village roads were blocked on Thursday due to heavy snowfall in the eastern provinces of Bitlis, Van, Muş and Hakkari.

Snow removal vehicles are working around the clock to keep the roads operational but ongoing precipitation thwarts the efforts, officials said.

The drivers stranded on the blocked roads were diverted to nearby gas stations, awaiting reopening.

In Bitlis, the snow thickness reached 103 centimeters in the city center and 147 centimeters in the higher parts, according to local sources. (ILKHA)