
Freezing weather and snowfall have caused chaos for air and road transport in several European countries. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, one of the largest on the continent, has canceled at least 700 flights due to snow and strong winds, after several days of continuous disruptions.
Airport authorities announced that over 1,000 passengers were forced to spend the night at Schiphol. Temporary beds have been set up and food has been provided for stranded passengers, while warning that the number of canceled flights could increase during the day.
The difficult weather situation is also affecting France. Around 100 flights were canceled Wednesday morning at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport, while another 40 flights were suspended at Orly airport, due to snowfall and very low temperatures.
Due to frozen roads, public bus service in Paris and surrounding areas has been suspended, although most metro lines and suburban trains continue to operate.
The French meteorological service, Météo France, announced that 38 of the country's 96 departments are on alert for heavy snowfall and frost. According to it, between 3 and 7 centimeters of snow have been recorded, while the cold wave is being described as of rare intensity for this time of year.
French authorities have urged citizens to avoid unnecessary movement and, when possible, work from home.