Winter blizzard brings chaos in Europe

Europe is enduring another night of freezing condition as a Siberian weather system continues to bring chaos in large parts of Europe. Due to heavy snowfall, the roads are being closed, rail services and schools are also closed and hundreds of flights are also being cancelled.


The unusually cold spell is being felt as far south as the Mediterranean. The number of weather-related deaths rose to as many as 55 with 21 victims in Poland, most of the rough sleepers. Apparently, it triggered a warning from the World Health Organisation that the poor and homeless and migrants would be hardest hit by the big freeze.


It was said in a statement that, "Those most at risk of cold-related illness include elderly people, children, and people who have chronic diseases or physical or mental limitations. The weather system has been given various nicknames - in the UK it is the Beast from the East while the Dutch call it the Siberian bear and Swedes the snow cannon.”


Snow has even appeared on the normally balmy beaches of the French Riviera. Ireland remains braced for what is predicted to be its heaviest snowfall in decades as Storm Emma moves in from the south. Flights in and out of Dublin airport were suspended with service disruptions expected to continue until Saturday at the earliest.


On Thursday, Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar urged people to stay indoors until the storm passed later on Friday. The PM said, "The risk to life and limb presented by the severe weather conditions should not be underestimated by anyone. It is not safe to be outside in such conditions."