Hundreds of motorists trapped in vehicles after heavy snow in Sweden, Denmark
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Rescue services on Thursday evacuated motorists from hundreds of cars stuck overnight on Swedish and Danish roads as heavy snowfall, strong winds and icy conditions led to big traffic jams.
In Sweden, the military mobilized tracked vehicles to aid the evacuation and bring food and water to those who were stranded on a motorway in southern Sweden.
Snow is cleared with wheel loaders, cars and trucks are recovered and people are evacuated with the Home Guard's tracked vehicle at Ekerodsrasten on the E22 between Horby and Kristianstad in southern Sweden, January 4, 2024. (TT News Agency/ Johan Nilsson via REUTERS)
The Swedish transport agency said it expected the affected stretch of the E22 road between Horby and Kristianstad to reopen Friday, after the road clogged up with vehicles on Wednesday as trucks got stuck and ploughs struggled to clear the roadway.
A number of trucks are stuck on the E22 at Linderod, southern Sweden, January 4, 2024. (TT News Agency/ Johan Nilsson via REUTERS)
Many cars were abandoned as the evacuation continued, while others were able to turn around as rescue workers cut holes in the metal barriers separating southbound and northbound lanes, news agency TT reported, citing rescue services.
A number of trucks are stuck on the E22 at Linderod, southern Sweden, January 4, 2024. (TT News Agency/ Johan Nilsson via REUTERS)
(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom, editing by Terje Solsvik and Alex Richardson)