An unusual and persistent blizzard has covered much of Spain in snow, freezing traffic and leaving thousands trapped in cars or at train stations and airports that had suspended all services as the snow continued to fall on Saturday.
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The capital Madrid and other parts of central Spain first activated a red weather alert, the highest, and called in the army to rescue people from trapped vehicles on everything from small roads to the city’s main thoroughfares. .
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The national meteorological agency AEMET had warned that some regions would be receiving more than 24 hours of continuous snowfall due to the strange combination of a stagnant cold air mass over the Iberian Peninsula and the arrival of the warmer Storm Philomena from the south.
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AEMET had said that up to 20 centimeters (almost 8 inches) of snow could accumulate in large parts of the country, but the accumulation reached more than 50 centimeters even in urban areas. The storm is expected to move northeast throughout Saturday, the agency said.
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Carlos Novillo, head of the Madrid emergency agency, said that more than 1,000 vehicles were trapped, the majority on the city’s ring road and on the main highway that leads from the capital to the south, towards the regions of Castilla La Mancha and Andalusia.
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“The situation continues to be high risk. This is a very complex phenomenon and a critical situation, “said Novillo on Saturday morning in a message posted on social media.
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“We ask all those who are trapped to be patient, we will contact you,” he added.
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The airport operator AENA said that the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas International Airport, the country’s main entry and exit gate, would remain closed for the entire day after the blizzard overtakes machines and workers trying to keep the runways clear of snow. .
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All trains to and from Madrid, both commuter routes and long-distance passenger trains, as well as rail lines between the south and northeast of the country, were suspended, railway operator Renfe reported.
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The storm had caused severe disruptions or completely closed more than 430 highways on Saturday morning, according to Spain’s transit authorities, urging people to stay indoors and avoid all non-essential travel.
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Winter weather even brought the country’s soccer league to a halt, and some of the best teams in La Liga were unable to travel for games. A flight to Madrid that transported the players of the current championship leader, Athletic de Bilbao, had to return to the Bilbao airport, while the second classified, Real Madrid, could not take off for his match against Osasuna of the night of Saturday.
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The blizzard also produced unusual images for many Madrilenians, including some brave people who went out with their ski equipment on a main commercial avenue and in the central Puerta del Sol square, and even a sled pulled by dogs that was seen in videos that circulated widely in social networks. .
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