Motorists stuck overnight on Austrian motorways

Vienna - Thousands of drivers in eastern Austria were forced to spend the night on the motorway as authorities closed down roads because of heavy snowfalls in parts of the country. On two major motorways leading to the capital Vienna from the west and south drivers were stuck for up to twelve hours, as up to 50 centimetres of new snow on the road made access for road services impossible, Austrian media said. Partly responsible for the night's chaotic situation were trucks without sufficient winter gear, authorities said. Authorities could give no indication on when the roads would be reopened. Emergency services provided stranded motorists with hot drinks and blankets. In the western Austrian province Tyrol, avalanche experts warned the situation was critical. Avalanche risks were rising due to a temperature drop and heavy winds. Individual skiers could easily trigger avalanches when skiing off the marked slopes, as the amount of snow was unseasonably high and still needed time to settle. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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Motorists stuck overnight on Austrian motorways

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