A severe Arctic freeze continues to wreak havoc across Europe for a third consecutive day, plunging transportation systems into widespread chaos and resulting in tragic fatalities. The relentless cold snap, described as the most brutal of the winter season, has crippled major aviation hubs, stranded thousands of passengers, and claimed multiple lives.
Air travel has been disproportionately affected, with Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport emerging as a primary epicenter of disruption. Officials reported over 1,000 travelers were compelled to overnight within the terminal, while more than 700 flights were canceled with warnings of further interruptions. Similarly, Parisian aviation faced extreme duress; Charles de Gaulle Airport canceled over 100 flights, with an additional 40 axed at Orly Airport. Belgium’s Brussels Airport confirmed 40 cancellations, compounding continental travel misery.
Ground transportation has fared no better. In a drastic measure, all public bus services across Paris and its metropolitan suburbs were indefinitely suspended due to perilously icy road conditions. The Eurostar rail service, a critical link between London and mainland Europe, experienced significant delays and cancellations, further isolating communities.
The human cost of the extreme weather is mounting. Authorities have confirmed six weather-related fatalities across the continent. Five deaths occurred in France on Tuesday, while another woman perished in Bosnia amid heavy snowfall and catastrophic flooding that triggered widespread power outages throughout the Balkans.
Vulnerable populations, particularly the homeless, are enduring immense hardship. Testimonies from individuals like 19-year-old Boubacar Camara from Guinea, who is sheltering in a tent in Paris, highlight the severe shock of the cold to those without adequate refuge. Meanwhile, meteorological agencies across nearly half of mainland France have issued high-alert warnings for heavy snow and black ice, with similar advisories active from Scotland to Sweden. Nordic nations are also grappling with the onslaught; eastern Sweden faces likely power cuts from heavy snow, and Danish authorities are urging extreme caution for necessary travel.