UPDATE - Parts of Turkish Cypriot town Maras reopen 46 years on

Following COVID-19 measures, around 200 visitors come to town before reopening of public street, part of coastline

UPDATES WITH VISIT OF PRIME MINISTER ERSIN TATAR, CHANGES HEADLINE

By Muhammet Ikbal Arslan

GAZIMAGUSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (AA) - The abandoned town of Maras in the Turkish Cypriot city of Gazimagusa partially reopened for public use on Thursday.

Around 200 visitors came before the opening at 12.00 p.m. local time (0900 GMT), according to an Anadolu Agency correspondent in the field.

The visitors were allowed to a public street called Demokrasi and a part of the coastline of the town, which is within the borders of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and has been closed for 46 years.

Prime Minister Ersin Tatar also visited Maras during the event, touring the reopened areas along with other officials.

At the entrance, the visitors were asked to keep social distance and wear masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maras had so far been a ghost town where entry was forbidden, except for Turkish army personnel stationed in the TRNC.

The TRNC had announced the opening of Maras to tourists in 2019.

Kaynak: