Severe winter conditions lead to multiple traffic accidents and imposed travel restrictions
Valentine's Day Blizzard Wreaks Havoc on Berlin's Roads and Airways
Get ready for a cruddy Valentine's Day in Berlin, as Mother Nature dropped a snowy mess that's clogging up the city and causing all sorts of chaos.
The Berliner Ring, A11, and A13 highways have been turned into ice rinks, with multiple segments closed due to treacherous conditions. The A11 is closed between Pfingstberg and Joachimsthal, and the A13 near the Kahlberg rest stop isn't passable at the moment.
The frozen roads have created a right Royal pain in the patootie across the region. Brandenburg reported a whopping 336 accidents overnight, leaving 19 poor souls with injuries. Don't think Berlin dodged the bullet, either—121 accidents already occurred in the capital by 7am on Friday, according to local cops. The Berlin Fire Department attended to 25 accidents overnight, many involving vehicles slipping into tram tracks, and even a crash on the autobahn.
Two individuals ended up in serious trouble. In Moabit, a snowplow flipped over, injuring the driver who miraculously managed to free himself. In Spandau, a truck collided with a car on Freiheitstraße, leaving another poor sap hurt, and causing the fire department to stabilize a wobbly streetlight with a ladder.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) wasn't any luckier, as the snow created delays for both arrivals and departures. The runways were covered in white stuff, causing plenty of time to be wasted as they cleared the way. Some departures were delayed by the horseradish, and the German air traffic control authority limited landings to just 15 an hour due to the weather.
With the weather taking a snow day, it's best to move slow and easy. And hey, maybe you'll have a cozy cup of hot cocoa while you wait out the mess!
The general news in Berlin today is dominated by the weather, as the Valentine's Day blizzard has resulted in numerous accidents on the roads and airways. Weather forecasting has predicted more snow and ice, making travel dangerous and unpredictable. Be cautious on the roads, and expect delays at Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
