Ice and winds cause havoc in east and central Europe

Cold weather has been causing havoc in east and central Europe.

In Serbia emergency workers “risked their lives”, according to the electrical grid company EMS, to mend power cables which had been brought down by high winds and ice up to 20 centimetres thick, euronews reports.

Power supplies have finally been restored to the eastern town of Majdanpek, where for three days people had been without electricity, heating or running water.

The local hospital kept going thanks to an emergency generator.

Elsewhere in Europe, there has been similar disruption to daily life.

In Lower Austria many schools and roads have been closed for security reasons. Many people have stayed at home.

Emergency services working to improve safety by cutting down trees and branches have had to cope with strong winds.

“Now the wind is pushing the trees. And trees which have been affected but did not break thus far can break now because of the wind. And we already have reports by our teams that they have cut trees, and all around other trees were felled,” said Franz Resperger of the Lower Austria Fire Brigade.

In the Czech Republic the icy weather has forced the cancellation of hundreds of trains, especially along the main rail corridor connecting Prague to Moravia.

In the capital buses have replaced some tram lines while others have been repaired after frosty overhead lines brought the tram network to virtual collapse.