Europe freeze strands travellers, cuts power
Extremely frigid temperatures cause steam to rise above the Des Moines River on Saturday in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The Midwest is bracing for another round of heavy snow and wind chills as low as 50 degrees below zero according to the National Weather Service. Photo: AFP
The Arctic freeze that has stricken Europe left hundreds of people stuck in vehicles in deep snow or stranded at airports with scores more flights cancelled and power cuts to thousands of homes yesterday.
The treacherous conditions cut off villages in northern Germany and the Baltic islands, and disrupted rail traffic with the troubled Eurostar still only able to run two out of three trains under the English Channel.
The weather, which forecasters said was caused by a rare depression that they had called "Daisy", unleashed blizzards in northern Germany that left motorways, other roads and railways in impassable at certain points.
Hundreds of people were stuck in their cars and lorries in snow, or in trains, overnight and on Sunday morning, authorities said.
Comments