MADRID (Reuters) – Heavy snow from Hurricane Filomena left hundreds of drivers stranded in cars on Friday, with roads blocked and Madrid airport closed.
The M-30 and M-40 motorways near Madrid were on more than 400 roads where snow prevented vehicles, traffic officials said. Citizens were asked to avoid non-essential travel.
Thousands of drivers were trapped inside their cars or trucks in Madrid, unable to travel on icy roads.
“I drove to the hospital and was stuck here for three hours. It is a journey that should take 15 minutes, “a woman told Spanish television station RNE in her car.
The Red Cross took food to truck drivers caught on the A4 in Madrid.
“Due to unfavorable weather conditions, flights are diverted from Madrid Barajas Airport. Check with the airline for the status of your flight, ”said Aena, which controls the country’s airports, in a tweet.
Some welcomed the chance to have fun on the snow.
Skiers glided through the Puerta del Sol in central Madrid and a man was filmed on a sledge leading a pack of dogs through the streets of the capital.
The Real Madrid football team, which was heading to Pamplona for a match with Osasuna, the League’s rival, waited for four hours in a plane at Madrid airport before the flight took off.
With snow forecasts of up to 20 cm (8 inches) in 24 hours and temperatures of around zero degrees Celsius, the south of the Madrid region has been at the highest alert level for the first time since the system was set up in 2007.
Large parks in the capital, including the Retiro near the Prado Museum, have been closed as a precaution.
“I went out to see and enjoy the snow. Today there is very little left to do (due to the pandemic) “, said Juan Jose, 24, marketing director, outside Retiro Park.
High-speed rail services between Madrid and the southeastern cities of Alicante and Valencia have been suspended.
A record temperature of -35.6C was recorded at Vega de Lourdes in Leon, northern Spain, the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) said.
Reported by Graham Keeley Emma Pinedo and Cristina Sanchez, edited by Andrei Khalip, Gareth Jones, Andrew Heavens, David Gregorio and Sonya Hepinstall