Severe Winter Weather Affects Europe: Lives Lost and Travel Chaos Ensues

Thu Jan 08 2026 23:51:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Intense snowfall across several European countries has resulted in six fatalities and the cancellation of hundreds of flights, leaving thousands stranded as authorities struggle with the unprecedented conditions.

Severe winter weather has brought chaos to Europe, resulting in the deaths of six individuals due to accidents and extreme conditions. As flights are cancelled across major hubs like Amsterdam and Paris, hundreds of passengers find themselves stranded amid ongoing travel disruptions and warnings from officials about continued snow and ice hazards.

Intense snowfall and icy weather conditions have caused widespread travel disruption across Europe, with six reported killed in weather-related incidents on the continent.

Five people died in two separate regions of France as a result of treacherous driving conditions, authorities said, while one woman was also killed in Bosnia's capital, Sarajevo, after 16 inches (40 cm) of snow fell on the city.

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled across Europe, with thousands left stranded at airports in Paris and Amsterdam. Disruption is expected to continue into Wednesday.

In France, three people died in two separate incidents in Landes, in the south-west, due to black ice, authorities reported.

Two more perished in separate motor accidents in the Paris region, one as a result of a collision with a heavy goods vehicle and another due to a taxi accident that involved plunging into the Marne river.

The Balkans have also faced severe weather; a woman died in Sarajevo after a tree fell on her due to the weight of the snow.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated that more snow was expected, urging people to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.

In Paris, Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport experienced 40% cancellations as staff worked to clear snow from runways. Amsterdam's Schiphol airport saw over 400 flights cancelled, leading to chaos as travelers faced long queues and a lack of information.

Many flights affected were those of Dutch airline KLM, which struggled with shortages of de-icing fluid amid the extreme weather.

Passengers have expressed frustration, labeling the situation at Schiphol as "chaotic" and "unacceptable." Additionally, rail services throughout the Netherlands faced interruptions due to an IT outage.