Severe winter weather has caused major disruption across Europe, leaving six people dead and forcing hundreds of flight cancellations. Heavy snow and icy conditions have made roads dangerous, grounded planes, and disrupted train services in several countries.
Officials say travel problems are likely to continue into Wednesday as more snow and freezing weather move across the region.
Deadly Accidents Reported in France and Bosnia
Five deaths were reported in France due to road accidents linked to black ice and snowfall. In the south western region of Landes, three people were killed in two separate crashes caused by slippery roads, according to authorities.
Two more people died in the Paris area. One person was killed in a collision between a car and a heavy truck in eastern Paris.
In the Balkans, extreme weather also turned fatal. In Sarajevo, Bosnia’s capital, a woman was killed after a tree collapsed under the weight of heavy, wet snow. Around forty centimeters of snow had fallen on the city.
Airports See Mass Cancellations and Delays
Airports across Europe were overwhelmed as snowfall forced flight cancellations and delays.
In France, officials announced that Paris Charles de Gaulle airport would cancel forty percent of its flights for several hours on Wednesday morning so crews could clear snow from the runways. Paris Orly airport also planned to cancel about one quarter of its scheduled flights during the same time.
In the Netherlands, more than four hundred flights were cancelled at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport on Wednesday. Thousands of travelers were left stranded, many missing connecting flights.
Dutch airline KLM confirmed that many of the cancellations involved its aircraft. The airline said it was close to running out of de icing fluid due to extreme weather and supply delays.
Passengers Describe Long Waits and Confusion
Travelers at Schiphol airport reported long lines and limited information from airlines. Javier Sepulveda, a passenger trying to travel from Amsterdam to Norway, described the situation as chaotic and unacceptable.
He said he joined the KLM service desk line early Tuesday morning and was still far from the front after waiting six hours.
Airport officials said snow crews were working around the clock to keep runways clear and ensure planes were safely de iced. Dutch media later reported that another six hundred flights scheduled for Wednesday were also cancelled.
Train Services Also Affected
Rail travel was also disrupted. In the Netherlands, all train services were briefly suspended on Tuesday morning due to an IT failure. Although some trains resumed later, delays and cancellations continued throughout the day.
Eurostar services between Amsterdam and Paris were either cancelled or ran late.
Authorities Urge People to Stay Home
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot warned that more snow was expected overnight and into Wednesday. He advised people to avoid unnecessary travel and work from home if possible.
France’s national weather service placed thirty eight regions on orange alert for snow and black ice, with many local train services suspended as a safety measure.
