Amid Heavy Snowfall In Madrid Residents Start Massive Snowball Fight, Cops Intervene
A persistent blizzard blanketed large parts of Spain with an unusual amount of snow on Saturday, killing at least four people and leaving thousands trapped in cars or at train stations
Heavy snow blanketed parts of Spain due to the storm Filomena and has brought normal life to a complete standstill in Spain. Authorities said that this was the most intense snowstorm that Spain has seen in the last fifty years, BBC News reported.
Amid this stormy weather condition, police in Spain were forced to intervene in a massive snowball fight in Madrid following warnings of the risk posed due to COVID-19.
A crowd in the Plaza de Callao in Madrid took advantage of the record levels of snow brought on by a blizzard that blanketed large parts of Spain with a massive snowball fight. https://t.co/99YfBfbfVw pic.twitter.com/3OTlF6EEGy
¡ª ABC News (@ABC) January 10, 2021
A 12 am-6 am coronavirus curfew is currently in place in Madrid and people can only meet in groups of six or less.
AP
According to BBC, interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that this was the most intense snowstorm that Spain has seen since 1971.
Persistent blizzard killed at least four people and left thousands trapped in cars or at train stations and airports that suspended all services.
A Twitter user, Jaded New Yorker shared a video of a man enjoying a sleigh ride on the roads of Madrid with the caption, "I interrupt your doomscroll to let you know it hasn't been snow-covered like this in 61 years in Madrid, Spain. People are into it so I'm going to share some videos. This guy has been waiting for this his entire life (sic)."
Reuters
In Madrid, authorities activated a red alert for the first time since the system was adopted four decades ago and called in the military to rescue people from vehicles trapped on everything from small roads to the city¡¯s major thoroughfares.
Sandra Morena, who became trapped late on Friday as she commuted to her night shift as a security guard in a shopping center, arrived home, on foot, after an army emergency unit helped her out on Saturday morning, reports AP.
¡°It usually takes me 15 minutes, but this time it has been 12 hours freezing, without food or water, crying with other people because we didn¡¯t know how we were going to get out of there,¡± said Morena, 22.
This is Madrid, Spain, after ¡°Filomena¡± snow storm ? I had the time of my life with my dog today. Such a sunny white day! ?? #snowdog #2021 #Filomena #dogsfun pic.twitter.com/gHMwWRCEps
¡ª Pilar Santamaria (@pilarsantamaria) January 10, 2021
¡°Snow can be very beautiful but spending the night trapped in a car because of it is no fun,¡± she added.
As of Saturday evening, Spanish security services had rescued all the people who were trapped in vehicles -- over 1,500, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told Associated Press.
A crowd in the Plaza de Callao in Madrid took advantage of the record levels of snow brought on by a blizzard that blanketed large parts of Spain with a massive snowball fight. https://t.co/99YfBfbfVw pic.twitter.com/3OTlF6EEGy
¡ª ABC News (@ABC) January 10, 2021
Adolfo Su¨¢rez Madrid-Barajas International Airport, the main gateway in and out of Spain, will remain closed at least until Sunday, ?balos said, after the blizzard bested machines and workers trying to keep the runways clear of snow.
Wondering where all the snow has been? Check this out! A historic snowstorm has occurred in Spain ??
¡ª Tyler Roney (@TylerJRoney) January 9, 2021
A storm of this magnitude hasn¡¯t happened since 1971!
pic.twitter.com/guAH7ASUuh
All trains into and out of Madrid, both commuter routes and long-distance passenger trains, as well as railway lines between the south and the northeast of the country, were suspended, railway operator Renfe said.
The storm had caused serious disruptions or closed over 650 roads, according to Spain¡¯s transit authorities, which urged people to stay indoors and avoid all non-essential travel.
Also Read: Heavy Snowfall Brings Kashmir Valley To A Standstill As Roads Are Closed, Fuel Rationed
Madrid's Gran Via today was the scene of an epic snowball battle interumpted briefly by a skier who swiftly became the target #NieveInMadrid #Filomena #NevadaMadrid #Madrid #nievemadrid #snow pic.twitter.com/cGsD4Y1ig1
¡ª The Local Spain (@TheLocalSpain) January 9, 2021
The wintry weather did disrupt the country¡¯s soccer league, with some teams unable to travel for games. Saturday¡¯s match between Spanish league leader Atl¨¦tico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao was postponed after the plane carrying Bilbao¡¯s team on Friday was unable to land in the capital and had to turn around.
Madrid City Centre today as the snow storm has his Spain ??... pic.twitter.com/pkckBb0gK3
¡ª Fr. Robbie O¡¯Callaghan (@FrRobbieOCall) January 9, 2021
The regions of Castilla La Mancha and Madrid, home to 8.6 million people altogether, announced that schools would be closed at least on Monday and Tuesday.
Also Read: Shocking Moment A House Collapses In Kashmir As Heavy Snowfall Takes A Toll
All Inputs AP
