Snow Traps Thousands of Cars on Italian Motorway, 200 Occupants Rescued – Reuters

Heavy Snow Causes Major Traffic Jam on Italy’s A22 Motorway

Milan – A significant snowfall on Saturday led to thousands of vehicles becoming stranded in long traffic queues on Italy’s A22 motorway. Firefighters sprang into action, rescuing approximately 200 individuals who had been trapped in their cars and buses for several hours.

The traffic jam, which extended up to 16 kilometers (about 10 miles), affected the route linking northeastern regions to Austria, according to a spokesperson from the Bolzano firefighter service. They noted the total number of vehicles involved was in the "thousands," making it challenging to provide a precise figure.

Firefighters utilized their vehicles to assist around 200 people who were in desperate need of help after facing freezing temperatures for several hours. The weather conditions had also led to several heavy trucks, which were not adequately equipped for winter driving, losing control and obstructing traffic. Although an avalanche struck the motorway earlier in the day, it occurred in a section that was not occupied by vehicles at the time.

By late afternoon, some traffic began to resume, but many vehicles remained stuck in place. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported amidst the chaos.