"Life-threatening"
Black ice chaos! Flights diverted, trains canceled
Eastern Austria is slippery: Freezing rain paralyzed large parts of the country on Tuesday morning – there is an acute risk of slipping. Schwechat Airport had to be closed in the morning, trains were canceled, and dozens of fall victims are already in hospital. People were urged to refrain from unnecessary travel.
The weather map of the Austrian Severe Weather Center (uwz) glowed alarmingly red and purple in the early afternoon – the highest warning level was in effect, especially in Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and Burgenland! Icy roads, chaos at the airport, and massive restrictions on public transportation – anyone on the road should allow extra time and be especially careful.
Ambulances already full
The severe black ice on Tuesday morning caused numerous people to injure themselves in falls. The accident and emergency department at the Barmherzige Brüder hospital in Eisenstadt already recorded the first injuries in the morning and expected an increased influx by noon.
In Vienna, too, there had already been well over 60 call-outs by noon due to people falling. The ambulance service was full, according to the accident hospital in Linz, with "at least 90 percent" of those requiring treatment being victims of falls.
Travelers need strong nerves
Vienna International Airport was particularly hard hit: several planes were unable to land in the morning due to icy runways and had to be diverted to Munich, Frankfurt, Venice, and Cologne. Other flights were delayed or canceled altogether, as reported by the aviation magazine "Austrian Wings." A total of 140 flights were affected. Operations will resume at 11 a.m. Departing planes will be handled first. Landings are also expected to resume at noon.
"Thick layer of ice has formed"
Kleemann explained that "a thick layer of ice has formed on the entire apron, taxiways, and runways, which refreezes immediately after de-icing." Winter services in Schwechat have been "in full operation since the night hours." The concrete surface area is approximately one million square meters. The spokesperson said that intensive work is being done to resume flight operations as quickly as possible.
Chaos on the rails too
But it wasn't just air traffic that came to a standstill: chaos also reigned on the railways! "Due to the current weather conditions, deviations and delays in train and bus services in Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland, Upper Austria, and Salzburg are to be expected until the afternoon. We therefore ask you to postpone any non-urgent travel until a later date," the ÖBB announced on Tuesday morning. There was a sigh of relief at around 2 p.m. when the closures were lifted.
"Rien ne va plus," reported a "Krone" reader who waited in vain for hours for a train in Gänserndorf (Lower Austria). "There were cheers when the first train stopped – crazy," she said.
I can only see people slipping around outside. Our driveway is so icy. Driving out is out of the question. This is rather unusual.
„Krone“-Leserin
"It's life-threatening out there," said a passerby in Vienna's 19th district. Similar conditions were also found in Hernals: "I can only see people slipping and sliding outside. Our driveway is so icy. Driving out is out of the question. This is rather unusual," said a Krone reader.
Delays also on Vienna's public transport system
There were also weather-related delays on the Vienna public transport system. Tram and bus services were running at irregular intervals.
Photos from Vienna show the icy streets:
Long-distance trains to Vienna Airport were completely canceled in the morning. The all-clear was only given for the S-Bahn and City Airport Train (CAT), which are running as scheduled. On the southern line towards Graz, train service no longer ends at Vienna Central Station, but already in Vienna-Meidling.
Salt spreading ban lifted
Andreas Huber, spokesperson for the Vienna Professional Rescue Service, reports more than 30 call-outs due to falls during the night and until 8:30 a.m. In view of the dangerous situation, the city of Vienna also pulled the emergency brake: the previousban on salt spreadingwas lifted. Until Tuesday noon (12 p.m.), salt could be spread heavily again, confirmed MA 48. Safety first!
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