Six Dead and Hundreds of Flights Cancelled as Snow Causes Chaos Across Europe
Intense snowfall and freezing conditions have wreaked havoc across Europe, resulting in the tragic loss of six lives due to weather-related incidents. Airports are facing unprecedented disruption, and thousands of travelers are left stranded as hundreds of flights have been cancelled.
Devastating Weather Impact
– Fatalities: Six individuals have been reported dead across the continent.
– France: Five deaths occurred in two regions due to hazardous driving conditions caused by black ice.
– Three fatalities happened in Landes in the south-west.
– Two additional deaths from separate road accidents in the Paris region were also confirmed. One involved a driver colliding with a heavy goods vehicle, while another incident saw a taxi driver lose control and tumble into the Marne river.
– Bosnia: A woman in Sarajevo was killed after a tree, heavily laden with snow, fell on her.
Travel Chaos Amid Snow
– Flight Cancellations: Hundreds of flights have been cancelled across Europe, with major repercussions felt at airports in Paris and Amsterdam.
– In France, authorities have forecasted further snowfall on Tuesday night and Wednesday, prompting Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot to urge the public to minimize travel and work from home. France’s national weather service has issued orange alerts for 38 districts due to anticipated snow and black ice.
– Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport: Expected to cancel 40% of flights Wednesday morning to facilitate snow clearance.
– Orly Airport: Planning to cut a quarter of its flights during the same timeframe.
– Over 400 flights have been grounded at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, causing significant delays for travelers trying to connect to other flights. Long lines have formed at airline counters as passengers seek information on their travel plans.
Airline and Airport Responses
– KLM Airlines: Many cancelled flights were operated by KLM, which reported nearing a depletion of de-icing fluid for its aircraft. They attributed the cancellations to the extreme weather conditions and supply chain delays.
– Passenger Experiences: Many travelers have expressed frustration over the conditions at Schiphol Airport.
– Spanish passenger Javier Sepulveda described the scene as “chaotic, unacceptable, frustrating, annoying” after waiting for six hours in line at the KLM help desk without significant progress.
– Airport Operations: Schiphol Airport has reassured travelers that its “snow crews are working around the clock” to maintain runway safety and efficiency.
Broader Transportation Disruptions
– Rail Services: Train services have also been affected. An IT outage caused a complete halt of all train services in the Netherlands on Tuesday morning. Though some resumed operations post-09:00 local time, disruptions persisted throughout the day.
– Eurostar services connecting Paris and Amsterdam faced cancellations or significant delays.
As Europe continues to grapple with severe winter weather, the disruptions are a stark reminder of the challenges posed by snow and ice. Travelers are advised to stay informed about their journeys and heed warnings from authorities while awaiting the resumption of normal travel services.