Severe snowfall and icy conditions have wreaked havoc across Europe, resulting in six deaths and massive disruption to air and rail travel. Thousands of passengers were stranded at major airports in Paris, Amsterdam, and other European cities, while dangerous driving conditions contributed to multiple fatalities.

Deadly Accidents Across France and the Balkans

In France, authorities reported five fatalities linked to treacherous weather.

• Three people died in Landes, south-west France, due to black ice on roads.
• Two others were killed in separate accidents near Paris: one in a collision involving a heavy goods vehicle, and another after a taxi plunged into the Marne River following a snow-related crash.

In the Balkans, a woman in Sarajevo, Bosnia, was killed when a tree collapsed under the weight of 16 inches (40 cm) of snow.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot urged the public to limit travel and work from home as further snowfall was expected through Wednesday. France’s national weather service placed 38 districts on orange alert for snow and black ice, while many train services were cancelled.

Widespread Flight Disruptions

Air travel across Europe was severely affected:

• Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport cancelled 40% of its flights for several hours to clear snow from runways.
• Orly Airport planned to cancel a quarter of its flights in the same timeframe.
• Amsterdam Schiphol Airport experienced over 400 flight cancellations on Wednesday, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

Many cancelled flights were operated by KLM, which cited extreme weather conditions and shortages of de-icing fluid as the cause of delays. Passengers reported long lines and limited information at airline counters, with some waiting over six hours for assistance.

Rail Travel Also Disrupted

Train services across Europe faced significant delays and cancellations. In the Netherlands, all train operations stopped briefly on Tuesday due to an IT outage, and Eurostar services from Amsterdam to Paris were either delayed or cancelled.

Rail operators are continuing to work on restoring normal services, but travelers are warned to expect ongoing disruptions.

Safety Measures and Public Warnings

Authorities across Europe have stressed the importance of caution during the storm. Road users are advised to reduce speed, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow local weather updates. Airports and rail operators are implementing round-the-clock operations to clear snow, de-ice vehicles, and ensure passenger safety.

Officials warn that travel chaos may continue into Wednesday and possibly beyond, as snow and icy conditions persist across large areas of Europe.