A snow storm in Istanbul has grounded planes, halted traffic, and forced the closure of key shipping channel the Bosphorus Strait. Turkish Airlines has cancelled more than 300 flights.

Snow Istanbul
A tourist sits under a palm tree on the snow-covered Sultanahmet Square in the historic old town in Istanbul Murad Sezer/Reuters
Snow Istanbul
Pigeons fly over a snow-covered square near Istanbul University Ozan Kose/AFP
Snow Istanbul
Bulent Kilic/AFP

Commuters in the city of 15 million people had to walk to work after as much as 60cm (24in) of snow fell in two days in parts of Istanbul.

The storm also stranded members of the Besiktas football team at the airport. The Istanbul side is scheduled to play Liverpool in England on Thursday (19 February).

Snow Istanbul
Traffic comes to a standstill as the snow falls in Istanbul Murad Sezer/Reuters
Snow Istanbul
People brave the cold and snow as they walk along the main pedestrian street of Istiklal in Istanbul Murad Sezer/Reuters
Snow Istanbul
Bulent Kilic/AFP

The Bosphorus strait, which divides Istanbul into Asian and European districts, was shut in both directions. At least 13 ships were waiting to enter the strait at both ends and are now scheduled to make the voyage on Thursday.

Snow Istanbul
Ozan Kose/AFP
Snow Istanbul
A man fishes on the Galata bridge in Istanbul as the snow falls Ozan Kose/AFP
Snow Istanbul
Bulent Kilic/AFP

Residents of Istanbul woke up to find the famed minarets and domes of the historic city's skyline covered in snow.

Snow Istanbul
A view from the Galata tower shows roofs covered with snow in Istanbul Bulent Kilic/AFP
Snow Istanbul
People look out at the snow-covered Istanbul from the Galata tower Bulent Kilic/AFP
Snow Istanbul
Syrian refugees walk along a snow-covered street in Istanbul Ozan Kose/AFP
Snow Istanbul
A Syrian refugee child walks through the snow in Istanbul Ozan Kose/AFP
Snow Istanbul
Ozan Kose/AFP
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