Mehmet Emin Bilmez

A report presented to the Turkish parliament subcommission on migration has shown that Turkey has so far constructed a 1,079-kilometer-long wall along its borders with Iran to prevent the illegal entry of migrants and that the entire construction is almost complete.

Mostly Afghans and Pakistanis travel on foot along the borders with Iran and enter Turkey.

Despite a recent spike in COVID-19 infections Turkey's young people are still dodging calls from officials and experts to get the coronavirus vaccine.

The Akdamar Church, a 1,100-year-old Armenian church in Turkey's eastern Van province, hosted its ninth special mass on Sept. 5 since reopening in 2010 after a hiatus of 95 years.

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A limited number of people were taken to the island by boat to attend the ceremony due to the ongoing pandemic.

The Akdamar Church in Turkey's eastern province of Van will host its ninth special mass on Sept. 5 since reopening in 2010 after a hiatus of 95 years.

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Previously attended in the hundreds before the novel coronavirus pandemic struck last year, participation in the annual mass will once again be subject to limitations as part of efforts to prevent infection.

The Turkish Coast Guard Boat Command, which was launched to prevent smuggling activities over Lake Van and to ensure security on the lake, will play an active role in preventing irregular migrants from being taken to other provinces by boat, according to officials on Aug. 21. 

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Unprecedented torrential rain wreaked havoc on Başkale's Esenyamaç, a village in the eastern province of Van, as authorities pledge to reshape the settlement to prevent future disasters.

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At least eight buildings were destroyed and 30 more structures were slightly damaged in the flood that occurred due to heavy rains lasting about half an hour.

A Turkish doctor, who underwent treatment for COVID-19 after contracting the new coronavirus, returned back to his duty after recovering.

Ufuk Çobanoğlu, the head of Thoracic Surgery Department at a medical center of Van Yuzuncu Yil University in eastern Turkey, was diagnosed with the disease around a month ago, according to a statement from the university.

Turkey has put more villages in the eastern and Central Anatolian provinces under quarantine in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Two neighborhoods and two hamlets in the eastern Van province, near the Iranian border, have been placed under quarantine, Mehmet Emin Bilmez, the local governor, has announced.

An area in the eastern province of Van's Başkale district, which is called "Vanadoccia" by locals due to its resemblance to Cappadocia's fairy chimneys, has been declared as a protected area.

With a presidential decree dated Feb. 11, Vanadoccia became a "strictly protected sensitive area."

At least five people are dead and others are feared trapped following an avalanche in eastern Turkey's Van province, authorities said on Feb. 4.

"Seven people were rescued during the search. Unfortunately, five others were found dead under the snow," said Van governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez.