Poland grapples with heavy snowfall, transport disrupted

WARSAW, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Poland has been hit by heavy snowfall since Tuesday, disrupting road, air, and rail transport in the country.

According to Polish media, traffic on the S7 expressway in Ostroda County, northern Poland, was paralyzed from Tuesday afternoon due to intense snowfall and strong winds. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded, with traffic jams stretching nearly 16 km in the direction from Warsaw to Gdansk. The Ministry of Infrastructure said that authorities are doing everything possible to ensure the route is fully cleared by Wednesday.

Air traffic has also been affected. Modlin Airport temporarily suspended flight operations late Tuesday into Wednesday. Departures from Warsaw's Chopin Airport faced delays as aircraft required de-icing before takeoff, the airport's press office told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

The state-run railway operator PKP Intercity reported that 16 of its trains were delayed by more than 60 minutes before noon on Wednesday. The carrier noted that railway traffic is now running without disruptions.

The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) on Wednesday morning reported a snow depth of 57 cm in Mlawa, north-central Poland. ■