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Swedish authorities have successfully evacuated over 1,000 people who were stranded in heavy snow for more than 24 hours on the main E22 road in the Skane region.
According to a report on BBC, rescuers, working tirelessly through the night, faced challenging conditions as extreme cold weather swept across the Nordic countries.
The travel chaos unfolded on Wednesday at 09:00 local time when snow rendered the E22 impassable between Horby and Kristianstad, leaving hundreds of cars stranded. "It is total chaos," commented police spokesperson Evelina Olsson.
Snow ploughs and rescue teams were deployed on Wednesday evening, working through the night to free people from the hundreds of trapped cars. Among those rescued were individuals with medical issues, including diabetes.
Erika Sepeliovaite, along with her two children and dog, shared their 19-hour ordeal before being freed. Malin Johansson, 56, from Ahus, highlighted the challenges of keeping warm in the freezing conditions.
By Thursday morning, all individuals traveling by car had been evacuated, leaving only lorry drivers in their vehicles. The army was called in to deliver food and water to those still trapped.
"The problem is that it is snowing so heavily that the road is covered in snow just half an hour after ploughing," explained Ms. Olsson. While conditions were improving, the road was not expected to be cleared until at least 08:00 on Friday.
Buses and trains were canceled in the Skane region on Thursday morning, with authorities urging people to avoid nonessential travel. As the aftermath of this winter crisis unfolds, stay tuned for further updates on the developing situation.
[With information sourced from BBC]
