Bad weather paralysed part of Germany: dozens of accidents and transport disruptions
In Germany on Sunday and Monday, 26 January, heavy snowfall and freezing rain caused serious disruptions to transport and numerous road accidents. This was reported by DW.
In Berlin, tram services were completely suspended on Monday morning, and bus services were halted in Potsdam. Due to difficult weather conditions in some areas of Bavaria and Lower Saxony, the authorities decided to temporarily close schools.
The bad weather also affected the work of federal authorities. Due to icy conditions, the logistics of German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephule's one-day trip to Latvia and Sweden were changed. The departure was moved from Berlin to Leipzig, where the minister travelled by train.
According to the German Meteorological Service, dangerous icy conditions were recorded in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt. In the eastern part of Brandenburg alone, there were 11 accidents on Monday related to slippery road conditions. In Thuringia, about 30 accidents were recorded after evening snowfall, 19 of them in the city of Erfurt.
The state of Baden-Württemberg was hardest hit by the bad weather. On Sunday evening, the A8 motorway between Stuttgart and Munich had to be completely closed for several hours due to stuck trucks and cars. Meteorologists warn that up to 25 centimetres of snow may fall in some parts of the region, which will continue to complicate traffic.
The snowfall also caused disruptions to rail services and delays to some flights at Stuttgart Airport. Civil protection services are urging drivers to refrain from travelling unless absolutely necessary.
Source and photo: DW.
Germany, Bavaria, Saxony, Stuttgart, Munich
