Snow and ice disrupt travel across Europe and cause deadly accidents

Heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures hit parts of Europe, causing multiple reported fatalities and widespread travel disruption, including hundreds of flight cancellations and suspended rail services.

Snow and ice have struck parts of Europe, creating hazardous travel conditions and difficult local situations. Authorities reported multiple deaths in France and at least one fatality in Bosnia as a result of the weather. Airports and rail services were widely affected, with hundreds of flights canceled and some domestic services suspended. What is known: - Officials reported several fatal accidents in southwestern France and additional deaths in the Paris region, and a woman in Sarajevo died after a snow-related incident. - Amsterdam’s Schiphol and several French airports cancelled or grounded large numbers of flights as crews worked to clear runways and de-ice aircraft. - Rail services in the Netherlands were disrupted, including an early IT outage that compounded icy-track problems, and schools and events were closed in parts of the UK and elsewhere. Summary: The winter conditions have produced widespread disruption to transport and been linked to multiple reported fatalities across several countries. Officials have announced service suspensions and travel restrictions in affected areas; further developments and timelines for restoring normal services are undetermined at this time.