ISTANBUL TRAFFIC CHAOS: MILLIONS RETURN FROM EID HOLIDAY
Millions of vacationers returning from the extended Eid al-Adha holiday have caused massive traffic congestion on roads leading to Istanbul. The government’s decision to extend the holiday to nine days led to a surge in travel to beachside destinations.
As holidaymakers began their journey back, Tekirdağ witnessed significant vehicle congestion, particularly at the Çorlu intersection near Istanbul’s Silivri district. Traffic authorities are implementing measures to manage the flow and expect congestion to persist until June 23.
In Bodrum, a popular tourist destination, the city saw a massive influx of 250,000 vehicles during the holiday, pushing the population to almost 1 million. With hotel occupancy rates at 95% and beaches packed with tourists, the traffic situation worsened as vacationers left the city, causing long queues on the roads.
Despite efforts to enforce speed regulations, the country has reported 49 deaths and over 7,600 injuries in road accidents during the Eid holiday period. Authorities are conducting thorough vehicle inspections and radar checks to ensure road safety.