Severe Winter Weather Wreaks Havoc in Europe
In a series of unfortunate events, harsh winter weather has created havoc across Europe. The extreme conditions have resulted in the loss of six lives and have disrupted air travel considerably. The sudden and intense snowfall, along with icy weather, has put Europe in a state of turmoil.
Tragic Accidents Claim Lives
Five individuals lost their lives in France due to dangerous driving conditions caused by the weather. In a separate incident, a woman in Bosnia's capital, Sarajevo, was killed after a staggering 16 inches of snow covered the city. The city was not spared by the weather, resulting in a deadly accident.
Flight Disruptions Strand Thousands
Travel plans of thousands were thrown into disarray as hundreds of flights were cancelled across the continent. This left countless travelers stranded in airports in cities like Paris and Amsterdam, causing significant inconvenience. This disruption is expected to persist, with no immediate relief in sight.
Accidents due to Black Ice in France
In the French region of Landes, three people were killed in two separate incidents due to the perilous black ice on the roads. Two additional individuals died in the Paris region in different car accidents, one involving a collision with a heavy goods vehicle and another where a taxi hit a curb due to the snow and ended up in the Marne river.
Weather Conditions in the Balkans
The Balkans has not been spared by the winter weather, suffering from both snowfall and heavy rain. Tragically, a woman in Sarajevo lost her life when a tree, burdened by the weight of wet snow, fell on her.
Travel Warnings Issued
The French transport authorities have urged people to limit their travel and work from home wherever possible. With further snowfall predicted, the country's national weather service has placed 38 districts on orange alert for snow and black ice. Many train services in these regions have been cancelled as a result.
Flight Cancellations at Major Airports
Paris's main airport is bracing for further disruptions, with plans to cancel 40% of its flights for several hours to allow staff to clear snow from the runways. Amsterdam's primary airport has already cancelled over 400 flights, leaving passengers stranded and causing widespread disruption.
Travelers Express Frustration
Many stranded travelers have voiced their frustration over long lines and a lack of information. One passenger, who was attempting to travel to Norway from Amsterdam, described the situation as chaotic, unacceptable, and highly frustrating.
Airlines Struggle with De-Icing Supplies
Adding to the travel chaos, one Dutch airline has warned that it is running low on de-icing fluid for its aircraft, blaming the extreme weather conditions and supply delays. This could potentially lead to even more flight cancellations.
Rail Travel Also Affected
The weather has not only disrupted air travel but also rail services. In the Netherlands, all train services were temporarily stopped due to an IT outage. Although some services resumed, problems persisted throughout the day, with many services to Paris either cancelled or delayed.