Freezing rain created chaos in Central Europe: closed airports and canceled trains. In Hungary, a plane veered off the runway
Freezing rain caused major disruption in Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary on Tuesday, closing airports, delaying and canceling flights and trains, and issuing warnings to travelers and authorities.
Europe, affected by freezing rain. PHOTO: archive/Institute of Atmospheric Physics of China
Vienna Airport, diverted flights and delays
Freezing rain covered the runways of Vienna airport with a thick layer of ice on Tuesday, January 13, causing the diversion of flights arriving at other airports, including Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne and Venice. Landing operations did not resume until 12:00 local time (11:00 GMT).
Departures from Vienna airport also resumed around 11:00 a.m. (10:00 GMT), airport spokesman Peter Kleemann said. However, some flights were canceled and others were delayed for several hours, affecting thousands of passengers, according to Agerpres.
Also on Tuesday, Austrian rail company OBB advised passengers to postpone non-essential travel due to multiple line disruptions and train cancellations.
Slovakia: Suspended flights and police warnings
In Slovakia, Bratislava airport suspended takeoffs and landings throughout the morning, resuming operations only around noon.
Slovak police issued a public warning on Facebook, urging people to avoid travel in the west of the country, which has been hit by extreme ice and snow. Authorities stressed that roads and rail transport are particularly dangerous and non-essential travel should be postponed.
Czech Republic: road and rail traffic paralyzed, people injured
In the Czech Republic, the hail blocked most roads and railways, affecting both daily commutes and freight transport.
Prague Airport has announced that it has resumed operations, but flight delays will persist throughout the day. Authorities do not expect the situation to worsen, but advise passengers to check the status of flights before travelling.
Emergency services in Prague reported that by mid-morning, around 50 people had been injured by the hail and required immediate medical attention.
Hungary: aviation incident, suspended flights and ice on the Danube and Tisza
At Budapest International Airport, all flights were suspended as of 10:25 a.m. (9:25 GMT) after an Ethiopian Airlines cargo plane skidded off the runway and came to rest in the grass.
“The circumstances of the incident are under investigation and the airport operator is working with the relevant authorities to remove the aircraft,” the airport authorities sent in an official statement.
Hungarian authorities also reported drifting ice on the Danube and Tisa rivers in areas near the border with Romania, where icebreakers were placed on alert to prevent blockages.
The phenomenon also affected Lake Balaton, in western Hungary, a relatively rare phenomenon, recorded once every 10-15 years. Authorities warn, however, that the ice is not thick enough for safe skating and urge the public to be cautious.
In the context of these extreme conditions, authorities in all four countries have issued travel warnings, recommending the postponement of non-essential travel and the adoption of increased caution.
