European chill leaves 39 dead
Source: Agencies |
December 4, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE death toll from a bitter cold spell across Europe increased to at least 39 yesterday, while some of the worst floods in a century devastated parts of the Balkans.
In many parts of Europe, train services continued to see heavy disruptions due to icy tracks, but air traffic was returning to normal in many places.
Britain's Gatwick Airport reopened after heavy snowfall forced a 48-hour closure, though its website warned of delays and cancellations as freezing temperatures persisted. London's Heathrow Airport was operating, but 45 arrivals and 25 departures were canceled.
Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris was again operating normally but many areas of France faced traffic problems due to the snow.
In Warsaw, police reported 12 deaths overnight, raising the death toll in Poland alone to 30 over the past three days. In the Czech Republic, the death toll rose to four after a man was found frozen in Prague.
In Germany, three people have now been killed, while authorities in England said they found the bodies of two elderly residents of Cumbria this week who are believed to have frozen to death.
It is "an early start to the winter because we are still in the autumn season," said Omar Baddour, a scientist with the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva. "It's not very, very unusual, but it is an extreme winter spell that is going to last a few days."
Baddour said that the cold comes from winds pushing an Arctic chill over the continent, also seen during last year's long and frigid winter. But he said it's too soon to say what in store for Europe this year.
Authorities, meanwhile, declared a state of emergency in Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro and evacuated hundreds of people after heavy rainfall caused severe flooding along the Drina River - the worst in 104 years. But floodwaters receded significantly overnight in Bosnia, leaving a trail of mud and debris.
Schools were closed, many people had no electricity or heat, and water supplies were contaminated along the river in all three countries while thousands of people and livestock were also evacuated from northwestern Albania after severe floods.
In many parts of Europe, train services continued to see heavy disruptions due to icy tracks, but air traffic was returning to normal in many places.
Britain's Gatwick Airport reopened after heavy snowfall forced a 48-hour closure, though its website warned of delays and cancellations as freezing temperatures persisted. London's Heathrow Airport was operating, but 45 arrivals and 25 departures were canceled.
Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris was again operating normally but many areas of France faced traffic problems due to the snow.
In Warsaw, police reported 12 deaths overnight, raising the death toll in Poland alone to 30 over the past three days. In the Czech Republic, the death toll rose to four after a man was found frozen in Prague.
In Germany, three people have now been killed, while authorities in England said they found the bodies of two elderly residents of Cumbria this week who are believed to have frozen to death.
It is "an early start to the winter because we are still in the autumn season," said Omar Baddour, a scientist with the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva. "It's not very, very unusual, but it is an extreme winter spell that is going to last a few days."
Baddour said that the cold comes from winds pushing an Arctic chill over the continent, also seen during last year's long and frigid winter. But he said it's too soon to say what in store for Europe this year.
Authorities, meanwhile, declared a state of emergency in Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro and evacuated hundreds of people after heavy rainfall caused severe flooding along the Drina River - the worst in 104 years. But floodwaters receded significantly overnight in Bosnia, leaving a trail of mud and debris.
Schools were closed, many people had no electricity or heat, and water supplies were contaminated along the river in all three countries while thousands of people and livestock were also evacuated from northwestern Albania after severe floods.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
