Heavy Snow Damage in Central Europe
Record-breaking snowfall has led to the closure of Munich Airport in Germany. A total of 760 flights were canceled, and dozens of Korean passengers were stranded.
According to CNN on the 2nd (local time), a spokesperson for Munich Airport stated, "Approximately 760 flights have been canceled due to the heavy snowfall."
Not only airplanes but also buses, trams, and other transportation were paralyzed, and power outages occurred, causing continuous damage. A Munich police spokesperson urged residents not to use cars unless absolutely necessary.
The airport, which has been closed since the night of the 1st, is expected to have difficulty resuming normal operations until 6 a.m. on the 3rd. As a result, demand surged at Frankfurt Airport, which is also facing difficulties.
Hwang Seomi, who arrived at Munich Airport early that day, told Yonhap News, "I took Lufthansa to Munich, but last night the plane landed late in Nuremberg," adding, "The airline said they would provide accommodation and meal vouchers on the plane, but after landing, they told us to manage on our own."
The Consulate General in Frankfurt said, "We contacted Munich Airport and Lufthansa, urging them to take measures so that Korean direct flights can resume quickly once airport operations restart."
The situation was worsened by power outages. Trees, unable to bear the weight of the snow, fell and damaged power lines, cutting off electricity supply to thousands of households in the Bavaria region.
Munich's home stadium, Allianz Arena, was closed due to safety concerns, leading to the cancellation of the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Union Berlin. As a result, Kim Minjae (27, Bayern Munich), who had been under scrutiny for overexertion, was able to rest.
Neighboring Czech Republic was also hit by a snowstorm. The country declared a state of emergency as heavy snow fell across the Prague area. The amount of snow that has fallen so far is expected to be matched by upcoming snowfall.
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