Intense snowfall and icy conditions have caused widespread travel chaos across Europe, leaving at least six dead and severely disrupting air and public transport. Authorities say the fatalities were linked to treacherous driving conditions, during what is being described as the harshest cold snap of the winter so far.
Five died in two separate regions of France due to weather-related road accidents, while a woman was killed in Bosnia’s capital, Sarajevo, after up to 40 centimetres of snow blanketed the city. Across the continent, hundreds of flights have been cancelled, stranding thousands of passengers.
In France, around 100 flights were cancelled at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport on Wednesday, January 7th, with another 40 grounded at Orly airport. Public bus services in Paris and its suburbs were suspended because of icy roads, though metro and suburban rail lines largely remained operational. Meteorological authorities placed 38 departments on alert for snow and black ice, warning residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
The disruption has been equally severe in the Netherlands, where Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport cancelled at least 700 flights due to snow and strong winds. More than 1,000 passengers were forced to spend the night at the airport, with officials setting up camp beds and providing food. Authorities warned that further cancellations are likely as extreme weather conditions persist.
