Schools closed as heavy snowfall hits Greece
SCHOOLS REMAINED closed across many parts of Greece as a new cold weather front brought more freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.
There has been widespread disruption across the country due to the rarity of such widespread and heavy snow, which has hit hardest in the north of the country and in mountainous areas. The capital, Athens, was blanketed by snow as was the port city of Thessaloniki.
Severe winter weather has been experienced across Europe over the last few days, with at least 13 people killed in weatherrelated incidents, mostly from avalanches.
There have been deaths from avalanches in Switzerland, Austria and Germany, and authorities warned that continuing snowfall is increasing the already high risk of more avalanches. Hundreds of holidaymakers have been stranded in Alpine regions, where high winds have caused flight delays and cancellations and raised the risks of more deadly avalanches. In Norway, a 29-year Swedish woman and three Finns, aged 29, 32 and 36, were presumed dead after a 990ft-wide avalanche hit a valley near the northern city of Tromso while they were skiing.
Romanian police found the frozen body of a 67-year-old man in a car park in the southern city of Slatina after his wife reported he had not returned from work the previous day.
Temperatures in Romania plunged to a low of minus 24C in one area.
In Austria, hundreds of residents were stuck in their homes due to blocked roads and some regions experienced power cuts after snow-laden trees took down power lines.