Germany’s Snowstorm: Stranded Students and Road Traffic
Heavy Snowfall Causes Chaos in Germany
Germany is currently experiencing heavy snowfall, causing chaos and dangerous conditions in many parts of the country, especially in the high parts of the state of Hessen.
Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis Region Fire Chief Michael Ehresmann reported that firefighters have been working tirelessly to rescue stranded vehicles and people. Approximately 30 vehicles were left stranded on the highway between the towns of Kiedrich and Hausen vor der Höhe due to heavy snowfall. In addition, 100 people were rescued from vehicles due to fallen trees and were placed in a hall, but the electricity was also cut off there.
The situation is so severe that 30 students were trapped at a school in the town of Bad Schwalbach, with parents unable to pick them up and buses not running.
Ehresmann has urged citizens to avoid driving due to the life-threatening conditions, stating, “Trees are falling like matches,” and stressing that they are facing an extraordinary situation.
The Westhessen Police Department reported numerous traffic accidents due to icing on the highways, resulting in a 3-kilometer-long vehicle queue between the cities of Wiesbaden and Naurod on the B445 highway. Additionally, a fatal collision in the Rhineland-Palatinate state resulted in the death of a 54-year-old woman and serious injury to a 69-year-old individual.
The chaos caused by the heavy snowfall has also led to power outages in the districts of Hessloch and Kloppenheim, with many streets and highways in the region being closed to traffic.
The German Meteorological Office (DWD) has issued a warning that snowfall will continue in the coming days, with low levels of snowfall expected, especially from the central parts of the country to the east.
The ongoing snowfall and dangerous conditions in Germany serve as a reminder for citizens to exercise caution and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during this challenging weather.
