Winter chaos paralyzes parts of Bavaria - air and rail traffic suspended
The authorities called on people to stay at home for safety reasons. The Munich police, for example, advised citizens to "urgently avoid unnecessary journeys and only travel by car if it is unavoidable". They spoke of "exceptionally heavy snowfall".
The fire department advised people to watch out for falling objects and snow around houses and trees. The heavy fresh snow posed considerable dangers. According to the weather service, the snowfall should gradually ease from the northwest as the day progresses.
Flight operations at Munich Airport were initially suspended until midday, according to the operators. "The reason for this is the persistent heavy snowfall yesterday, during the night and this morning," the airport said in a statement. The winter service is working continuously to ensure safe flight operations again. Around 320 flights were canceled on Saturday.
The onset of winter also caused major disruptions to rail services. Long-distance services were suspended in the greater Munich area, the railroad company announced on Saturday morning. Munich Central Station could not be served at present. The restrictions are expected to continue throughout Saturday. "We recommend postponing travel to and from Munich," explained the railroad company.
Rail services also came to a standstill in the Munich city area. "Bus, streetcar and S-Bahn services have unfortunately been suspended for today for safety reasons due to the weather," announced the Munich Transport Company (MVG). Cancellations and disruptions could also occur on the subway.
The Lower Bavarian police reported around 350 weather-related incidents from Friday evening to Saturday morning. There were five traffic accidents with personal injuries, "although fortunately the injuries were minor to moderate at best", according to the police. There were numerous obstructions on the roads due to slippery snow and broken snow, and cars and trucks broke down in many places.
FC Bayern's match against Union Berlin scheduled for the afternoon in Munich was canceled. The German Football League (DFL) announced that the owner of the Allianz Arena had "closed the stadium for today's match due to persistent heavy snowfall".
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- Despite the advice from the Munich police to avoid unnecessary car journeys due to the heavy snowfall, some drivers still faced challenges on the roads, contributing to the ongoing winter chaos in Bavaria.
- The DWD (German Weather Service) warned that the snowfall in Bavaria, especially in Upper Bavaria where Munich is located, would continue into the afternoon, potentially worsening the current winter conditions.
- With rail traffic suspended and flight operations at Munich Airport disrupted, alternative means of transportation became scarce, causing further chaos and inconvenience to residents and travelers in the area.
- The suspension of rail services proved particularly challenging for commuters, with many unable to reach Munich Central Station and forced to postpone their travels in accordance with the railroad company's recommendation.
- The heavy snowfall had also resulted in numerous obstructions on the roads, which combined with broken snow and slippery conditions led to numerous car and truck breakdowns throughout the region.
- The Lame department, as well as other emergency services, worked tirelessly to keep the city safe, advising residents to be cautious of falling objects and snow around houses and trees due to the heavy fresh snow.
- In the spirit of solidarity, private individuals in Munich offered their cars in an attempt to help stranded travelers and residents navigate the wintry conditions, working together to alleviate some of the winter chaos.
- In the face of adversity, spirit within the affected communities remained high, with Munich residents and city officials alike displaying resilience and cooperation, hoping to overcome the winter chaos in the near future.
Source: www.stern.de
