Hundreds of motorists stuck in snow overnight in southern Sweden, Denmark

[January 04, 2024]  STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Rescue services on Thursday evacuated motorists from hundreds of cars stuck overnight on Swedish and Danish roads as heavy snowfall, strong winds and icy conditions led to big traffic jams. 

A number of trucks are stuck on the E22 at Linderod, southern Sweden, January 4, 2024. TT News Agency/ Johan Nilsson via REUTERS

In Sweden, the military mobilized tracked vehicles to aid the evacuation and bring food and water to those who were stranded on a motorway in southern Sweden.

The Swedish transport agency said it expected the affected stretch of the E22 road between Horby and Kristianstad to reopen Friday, after the road clogged up with vehicles on Wednesday as trucks got stuck and ploughs struggled to clear the roadway.

Many cars were abandoned as the evacuation continued, while others were able to turn around as rescue workers cut holes in the metal barriers separating southbound and northbound lanes, news agency TT reported, citing rescue services.

(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom, editing by Terje Solsvik and Alex Richardson)

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