Six dead as Arctic freeze grips Europe and temperatures plunge as low as -33C

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and thousands left stranded across the continent as wintery conditions take hold.

Arctic Blast Claims Six Lives Across Europe Amid Extreme Cold

A severe Arctic cold front has swept through Europe, causing at least six deaths and widespread chaos as temperatures plunged to -33°C in some areas.

Fatal Accidents Amid Icy Conditions

In southwestern France’s Landes region, three people lost their lives in accidents linked to black ice, including car crashes. Near Paris in the Île-de-France area, two more fatalities occurred when heavy snow led to traffic mayhem, culminating in a collision between a car and a heavy goods vehicle; trucks were banned from roads to ease the crisis. In Bosnia’s Sarajevo, a woman was killed when a branch burdened by 40 cm (16 inches) of snow fell on her.

Record Lows and Regional Impacts

Finland recorded -33°C, according to the Finnish Meteorological Service, while Britain hit -12.5°C and parts of southern and eastern Germany reached -10°C. The Balkans faced heavy snow and rain, resulting in power outages and water supply disruptions.

Massive Travel Disruptions

Airports across the continent cancelled hundreds of flights. At Amsterdam’s Schiphol, over 700 flights were grounded, forcing more than 1,000 passengers to sleep on camp beds in the departure hall; they received pillows, blankets, food, and drinks amid an “exceptional situation.” Dutch carrier KLM warned of de-icing fluid shortages after days of freezing weather.

Paris’s Charles de Gaulle saw over 100 cancellations, with authorities slashing 40% of flights; Flight Radar reported over 3,200 affected journeys continent-wide. All Paris buses were halted, as Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot hoped for normalization later; Météo France called the weather “rare intensity for the season.” Brussels Airport cancelled around 40 flights with ongoing de-icing delays, while Serbia urged caution for drivers heading to ski resorts for Orthodox Christmas.