Yesterday at 23:53
Photo from Ukrinform–UATV
Heavy snowfall across south-central France, with up to 40 centimeters or 16 inches falling in some towns and villages, has caused chaos on the roads and knocked out electricity to nearly 200 thousand homes, Reuters reports.
The unseasonal and unexpectedly large snowstorms hit the Auverge, Rhon, Alpes and nearby regions, south and west of Lyon. TV footage showed thick blankets of snow falling across highways and in towns, with hundreds of vehicles brought to a halt.
Around 900 vehicles were stuck on the roads due to snow and black ice. Several hundred drivers abandoned their cars to find a warm and safe place to stay the night. People posted messages on Facebook asking to be rescued.
Snow ploughs were sent to clear the roads.
About 195 thousand homes were left without power in two regions of the country, Limousin and Centre Val de Loire, said French energy distributor Enedis. Workers have been trying to restore electricity.
The national Gendarmerie is working to rescue people. More than a thousand people have been temporarily placed in emergency shelters and provided with food and water.
Weather forecasters dismissed criticism that they had not provided warnings, saying they had been predicting for several days that bad weather could strike the area as storms and heavy rains wash across Italy and the island of Corsica.
It is projected that the cold weather and snow should reach Paris and the regions around it soon.
