Snow, ice causes canceled flights and deaths in Europe
Baku, December 10 (AZERTAC). A fierce early winter storm has brought snow and ice to Germany and other parts of Europe resulting in canceled flights and deaths. Snow and ice are covering half of Europe reports the German newspaper Sueddeutsche on December 9, 2012. And more snow is expected.
Germany`s snow and ice caused Frankfurt`s airport to be closed for one hour at about 2 p.m. on Sunday for incoming flights. By Sunday afternoon, 270 flights had to be cancelled including 133 incoming flights and 137 departing flights.
Because of numerous flight delays, the runway for departing airplanes was overcrowded and affected national as well as international travel connections. By 5:45 p.m. more than a quarter of the flights had to be canceled.
The German Lufthansa, which is Europe`s second-biggest airline and uses Frankfurt as its main hub, canceled at least 258 flights on Sunday in Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin and Dusseldorf to international destinations including San Francisco, Chicago and Seoul, according to Lufthansa`s website.
For domestic flight passengers, Lufthansa reports on its website that “Passengers travelling within German [Germany] whose flights have been cancelled due to weather may alternatively travel by train with Deutsche Bahn. To do this, please exchange your etix for a travel voucher under My bookings or at a Lufthansa check in machine. When exchanging the voucher online you can either print the travel voucher or send it per E-mail/SMS to your mobile phone.”
Germany`s snow and ice also caused German trains to be reduced to a speed of 200 km/h (about 125 mph). ICE high speed trains (Intercity Express trains) can travel with a maximum speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) connecting all major German cities at hourly intervals. International ICE trains connect Germany with Austria (Wien, Innsbruck), Belgium (Brussels, Liège), Denmark (Copenhagen, Arhus), France (Paris), the Netherlands (Arnhem, Utrecht, Amsterdam) and Switzerland (Zürich, Interlaken).
None of the trains have been canceled yet due to the snow and ice but passengers should expect delays.
On Saturday, the snow and ice in Europe reportedly claimed its first victim in Berlin where an unknown man was found in the icy snow behind a building.
The snow chaos and winter ice caused numerous accidents on Netherland`s roadways with one reported death of a 45-year-old driver whose car lost control on the icy road and overturned on the Autobahn.
In Moscow, Russia`s capital, international flights were also canceled due to the ice and snow. According to a Russian official, this has been the coldest winter for the past 20 years in Russia and six people have already frozen to death.
In the Czech Republic, three people froze to death over the weekend. A 47-year-old homeless person was found dead on the bench of a bus station. In the northern part of the Czech Republic, two more people, ages 58 and 67, froze to death.
In Croatia, four people died because of the snow and ice. A fierce blizzard stranded President Joachim Gauck on Saturday in Zagreb, Croatia`s capital, because Zagreb`s airport was closed.
In Serbia, more than half a meter of fresh snow resulted in the death of two people. A pregnant woman who was on her way to the hospital got stuck in her car and had to deliver the baby in the car. The baby is named “Snezana”, the Serbian name for “Snow White.”
More snow and freezing temperatures are expected for Monday. International and national travelers are advised to confirm their flight departures and arrivals to and from Europe.
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