The big freeze takes hold

Rescuers, army and the police have evacuated about 1,000 people from cars and buses stranded in deep snow in northern Serbia, but several hundred people still remain stuck, the government said.

By The Newsroom

Published 2nd Feb 2014, 20:08 BST

Authorities have closed down snow-hit roads and banned river traffic on the Danube because of strong winds.

“The Serbian government is urging citizens not to travel until all danger is fully removed,” the statement added. Winter so far in Serbia had been exceptionally mild, but over the last week a cold spell and snowstorms have swept across parts of central and eastern Europe.

Heavy snow in Bulgaria left dozens of villages without electricity and water. Pictured is the scene on the shore of Lake Balaton in Balatongyorok, 200 kms southwest of Budapest, Hungary. Weather forecasts predict ongoing cold temperatures.