03.04.2026 10:16
Mersin, known as Turkey's summer city, has drawn attention in recent months due to the rainfall it has received, surprising many with over 2 meters of snow at elevations above 2,000 meters. While teams are working to reopen the officially closed road during the winter season, snow tunnels have formed along the sides of the road.
This winter season has been rainy in Mersin, just like across the country. While Mersin and its district centers received heavy rainfall, areas at an altitude of 2,000 meters and above experienced the heaviest snowfall in the last 10 years.
TEAMS ARE WORKING TO OPEN THE ROAD
Every winter season, the road between Mersin Erdemli and Karaman Ayrancı is closed for precautionary reasons, and it is opened on April 1 for the service of citizens. This winter, due to heavy snowfall, the road could not be opened on April 1. Particularly in the Karataş area of the Taurus Mountains at an altitude of 2,200 meters in Mersin's Erdemli district, snow masses exceeding 2 meters drew attention. While the highway teams worked tirelessly throughout the day to open the road, the scene revealed the snowfall of this winter season.
"MERSIN HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH SNOW"
The headman of Güzeloluk Neighborhood, İbrahim Doğan, said, "This is the Karataş Gediği area on the Mersin Erdemli Ayrancı road. You see, everywhere is snow. There is about 2.5-3 meters of snow. Mersin has never seen such snow until now. This year, there has been excessive snowfall, and we call it a blessing right now. It will turn into water in the summer, it will become bread, it will be a return for the citizens."
"WHEN IT'S LIKE A TUNNEL, PEOPLE GET A LITTLE CREEPED OUT"
Doğan, who stated that he comes to this area at the same time every year, said, "Last year, when I came here 15 days ago, there was half a meter of snow. This year, there is about 2.5-3 meters of snow. When it’s like a tunnel, people get a little creeped out, they worry, 'How is it ahead, will we get stuck somewhere on the road?'"
Doğan mentioned that the highway teams are working intensively in the field to combat the snow, saying, "This is a road that connects Erdemli to the Central Anatolia Region. Citizens use it constantly in the summer. It may be opened around April 15. We say that no one should use this road until the official opening is made."
On the other hand, it was learned that despite the cold, fog, and occasionally rainy weather in the field, the teams continued their work, and it is planned that the road will be completely opened by April 15.