Heavy snowfall causes traffic chaos in western Germany

Heavy snowfall has caused traffic chaos as well as flight cancellations at the Cologne Bonn airport in western Germany.

Between Wednesday and Thursday morning local time, North-Rhine Westphalian police alone registered around 1,079 traffic accidents as a result of weather conditions.

Four people were seriously injured and 63 lightly injured. Material damage of more than 3 million euros (3.4 million U.S. dollars) are expected, the state office for central police services NRW (LZPD) announced.

The traffic jam detector of public broadcaster WDR recorded over 400 kilometers of traffic disruptions in Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia.

Continuous snowfall temporarily shut down Cologne Bonn airport and caused 16 flight cancellations. A spokesperson of Cologne Bonn airport confirmed that ten departures and six arrivals had been cancelled. "We are expecting some disruptions during the day," the spokesperson added.

After the turn of the year, strong winter weather has caused floods in northern Germany and snow chaos and traffic disruptions in many southern parts of Germany. In the Bavarian Alps, the second highest avalanche warning level had been in effect.

According to Germany's National Meteorological Service (DWD), fresh snow of 5 centimeters in the western and in the middle of Germany is still expected Thursday.