Snow traps drivers in Germany
Source: Agencies |
January 11, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HEAVY snowfall trapped more than 160 people overnight on a frozen highway in northeastern Germany. The drivers survived by running their engines until police rescued them yesterday morning.
Police in the town of Altentreptow said that 148 adults and 19 children were stuck in cars, a bus and trucks on highway A20 along the Baltic Coast.
"At least the firefighters were able to bring them hot beverages and food while they were waiting," said Jens Apelt, a spokesman for the Altentreptow highway police.
They were rescued after officers and rescue personnel used snow plows and heavy machinery to push through 2-meter drifts.
The drivers were brought to tents provided by local aid organizations.
"Several parts of the highway are still blocked by snow drifts, but we're trying to free all cars from the snow so that the drivers can get their vehicles back and take a different road instead," said Apelt.
In southern Poland, about 80,000 people were left without electricity yesterday after snow-ladden tree branches cracked, damaging several power lines, the news agency PAP reported.
Traffic also came to a standstill in other parts of northeastern Germany, which was suffering from a second day of heavy snowfall and gusty winds, especially along the Baltic Coast.
Two men were killed in an accident on the coast in Nordvorpommern when their car slid off a snow-covered road and hit a tree.
In Anklam, near the Polish border, a rescue team had to free a regional train with 14 passengers that was stuck in drifts, the German news agency DAPD reported.
Britain's Press Association put the number of weather-related deaths at 26.
Police in the town of Altentreptow said that 148 adults and 19 children were stuck in cars, a bus and trucks on highway A20 along the Baltic Coast.
"At least the firefighters were able to bring them hot beverages and food while they were waiting," said Jens Apelt, a spokesman for the Altentreptow highway police.
They were rescued after officers and rescue personnel used snow plows and heavy machinery to push through 2-meter drifts.
The drivers were brought to tents provided by local aid organizations.
"Several parts of the highway are still blocked by snow drifts, but we're trying to free all cars from the snow so that the drivers can get their vehicles back and take a different road instead," said Apelt.
In southern Poland, about 80,000 people were left without electricity yesterday after snow-ladden tree branches cracked, damaging several power lines, the news agency PAP reported.
Traffic also came to a standstill in other parts of northeastern Germany, which was suffering from a second day of heavy snowfall and gusty winds, especially along the Baltic Coast.
Two men were killed in an accident on the coast in Nordvorpommern when their car slid off a snow-covered road and hit a tree.
In Anklam, near the Polish border, a rescue team had to free a regional train with 14 passengers that was stuck in drifts, the German news agency DAPD reported.
Britain's Press Association put the number of weather-related deaths at 26.
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