Six Dead as Historic Snowstorm Paralyzes Europe, Stranding Thousands at Major Airports

A deadly winter storm has brought parts of Europe to a grinding halt, claiming at least six lives and leaving thousands of travelers stranded as hundreds of flights were cancelled across the continent.

The severe weather system, which dumped unprecedented amounts of snow and created treacherous icy conditions, has wreaked havoc from France to the Balkans, forcing authorities to issue urgent travel warnings and cancel essential services.

France has been hit hardest by the deadly storm, with five fatalities reported in weather-related incidents within 24 hours. Three people lost their lives in the south-western Landes region after separate accidents caused by black ice made roads virtually undrivable.

In the Paris region, two more lives were lost in tragic circumstances. One victim died following a collision between a passenger vehicle and a heavy goods vehicle in eastern Paris. In another incident, a taxi driver hit a curb due to snow-covered roads and plunged into the Marne river, resulting in a fatality.

The French government has responded with urgency. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot warned citizens that more snow is expected through Tuesday night and into Wednesday, urging people to avoid road travel entirely and work from home where possible.

France's national weather service has placed 38 districts on orange alert for snow and black ice—the second-highest warning level—signaling that dangerous conditions will persist.

The severe weather has extended its deadly reach to the Balkans, where heavy snow and rain have created hazardous conditions. In Bosnia's capital, Sarajevo, a woman was killed on Monday when a tree, weighed down by wet snow, collapsed on her after the city received 16 inches (40cm) of snowfall, according to local police.

The travel chaos has been most visible at Europe's major aviation hubs, where thousands of passengers found themselves stranded with little information and dwindling options.

Amsterdam's Schiphol airport cancelled more than 400 flights on Wednesday, creating a ripple effect of travel disruption across the continent. Long queues snaked through terminals as hundreds of passengers desperately sought information about when they might reach their destinations.

Many travelers missed connecting flights, leaving them stranded far from home. Spanish passenger Javier Sepulveda, attempting to fly from Amsterdam to Norway, described the situation as "chaotic, unacceptable, frustrating, annoying."

Sepulveda told reporters he joined the queue at the KLM help desk at 6:30 AM local time on Tuesday. Six hours later, he was still nowhere near the front of the line.

The disruption has been compounded by a critical shortage of de-icing fluid. Dutch airline KLM, which operated many of the cancelled flights, warned it had nearly exhausted its supply due to what it called "extreme" weather conditions and supply chain delays.

Airport authorities acknowledged the crisis, stating that "snow crews are working around the clock to keep the runways clear, and aircraft are being carefully de-iced to ensure everyone can travel safely."

The situation shows no signs of immediate improvement. Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that an additional 600 flights scheduled to depart from Schiphol on Wednesday have been cancelled.

France's capital has also seen significant flight disruptions. Authorities announced that Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport would cancel 40% of its flights for several hours on Wednesday morning to allow staff time to clear snow from runways.

Meanwhile, Paris Orly airport planned to cancel a quarter of its scheduled flights during the same period.

The chaos has extended beyond air travel. Train services across affected regions have been severely disrupted or cancelled entirely.

In France, many rail services in various parts of the country were suspended as operators struggled with snow-covered tracks and safety concerns.

The Netherlands experienced a complete standstill on Tuesday morning when all train services stopped following an IT outage. While some trains resumed operations after 9:00 AM local time, problems persisted throughout the day.

International rail connections also suffered. Eurostar services traveling from Amsterdam to Paris were either cancelled or running with significant delays, leaving passengers uncertain about their journeys.

Travel industry experts and meteorologists warn that the disruption is far from over. With additional snowfall forecast for Wednesday and temperatures remaining below freezing across much of the affected region, authorities are bracing for continued challenges.

The historic snowstorm serves as a stark reminder of how quickly weather can paralyze modern transportation networks, leaving thousands vulnerable and highlighting the need for better contingency planning as extreme weather events become more frequent.

For now, travelers across Europe are advised to check flight and train statuses before heading to airports or stations, consider postponing non-essential travel, and prepare for potential extended delays.