Strong windstorms in northwest Turkey kill 6: media reports

Istanbul, Dec 1 (IANS) Strong windstorms have killed at least six persons and injured more than 50 others in Turkey's northwestern region, according to local media.

The NTV, a Turkish TV news channel, said on Tuesday that four people died and 46 more were injured in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city with a population of more than 16 million.

Bad weather killed two more people and injured several more in the northern provinces of Kocaeli and Zonguldak, according to the report.

Ships have been stranded and schools have been forced to close due to the strong winds. Motorcyclists have found it difficult to cross the Bosphorus Strait bridges due to strong gusts, Xinhua news agency reported.

Motorcycles and electric scooters were banned from the road until 6 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) on Monday, said the Istanbul Governor's Office in a written statement.

According to Turkey's national flag airline Turkish Airlines, the storm has disrupted planes destined for Istanbul.