Heavy snowfall has caused chaos in Bavaria, southern Germany, particularly in the state capital Munich, where air and rail traffic will be disrupted on Saturday.
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After announcing that it would suspend its flights until 12:00 p.m. (11:00 GMT), Munich Airport on Sunday announced the extension of this measure until 6:00 a.m. (5:00 GMT) “due to persistent snowfall.”
A total of 760 flights were affected, a spokesman told AFP.
More than 40 cm of fresh snow fell in Munich on the night from Friday to Saturday, the weather service announced.
Authorities urged residents to stay at home for safety reasons.
Due to the “exceptionally heavy snowfall,” the city police particularly advised “avoiding unnecessary trips and only using the car when absolutely necessary.”
The onset of winter has also had a significant impact on rail traffic.
“Munich Central Station cannot currently be served,” said Deutsche Bahn.
Long-distance traffic around the city has come to a complete standstill.
Deutsche Bahn warned that train cancellations or delays are also to be expected in other parts of southern Germany and assumes that the disruptions will continue throughout the day.
Portal
Even in the Bavarian capital, a large part of the local public transport does not operate, as the Munich transport company (MVG) also announced.
She added that breakdowns and disruptions can also occur in the subway during the day.
Another consequence of the bad weather: the game between Bayern and Union Berlin scheduled for Saturday (3:30 p.m./2:30 p.m. GMT), which is part of the 13th matchday of the German championship, had to be postponed.
The snow that has accumulated on the roof of the Allianz Arena “poses an incalculable risk to spectators.” “In addition, it is practically impossible to get to the Allianz Arena,” said a statement from FC Bayern Munich.
The Lower Bavarian police, for their part, announced around 350 operations in connection with storms between Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Portal
She reported five traffic accidents with minor injuries.
A large part of Germany has been under the influence of snow and subzero temperatures for several days.
According to the German Weather Service, the largest amounts of snow are expected on Saturday in Allgäu in southern Bavaria with 30 to 40 centimeters.
The amount of rainfall is expected to gradually decrease by late afternoon, it said.