- Title: VARIOUS: Severe weather causes chaos in parts of Europe
- Date: 5th March 2008
- Summary: SNOWY PARK WOMAN WITH UMBRELLA WALKING TO BRIDGE
- Embargoed: 20th March 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Weather
- Reuters ID: LVAASZWT3H89H30B6FT7ANYQK1Y8
- Story Text: Sudden snowfall added to the misery of commuters in Germany's capital Berlin on Wednesday (March 5), already hit by a strike in the public transport system.
The strike brought subway, tram and bus services to a halt and combined with snow flurries caused difficulties for thousands in the morning rush hour.
Five people were injured, one of them seriously when 35 vehicles crashed during snowfall on a German motorway south of Berlin.
Police spokesman Thomas Wilde said at the scene that "near the Niederlehme junction, 22 cars, 10 trucks and 3 light trucks were involved in an accident."
"There is one seriously injured person and four lightly wounded people who are now undergoing medical treatment."
Snowfall was hampering rescue efforts and police said clean-up work would take until around 2 p.m. (1300 GMT).
Stranded motorists were supplied with blankets and hot drinks handed out by Red Cross workers who had set up tents in a nearby field.
Meanwhile most of northeast Spain was covered in snow as stormy weather continued for the second day.
"I had to stop because there is no way to continue," said one man who was forced to pull over and put chains on his tyres.
According to the National Weather Institute, an orange alert was declared for the northwest region and the north Balearic islands.
At least one person died after strong winds caused a tree to fall on a motorist while he was driving in San Sebastian.
Meteorologist expect the bad weather to continue through Friday (March 07). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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