Heavy snow and subzero temperatures swept across Europe, killing at least eight homeless people in Poland, closing major airports in Britain and Switzerland, and causing delays to rail and road traffic across the continent. In addition to Gatwick, one of Britain's busiest airports, and Geneva, Switzerland's second biggest one, Edinburgh airport in Scotland and Lyon-Bron airport in south-eastern France were shuttered Wednesday as staff struggled to clear the runways of snow.
In Poland, police eight men died Tuesday night after a bitter cold front hit the country, with temperatures falling to around -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit). Police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski said the men had all been drinking. Sokolowski said the men died in different parts of Poland, where many people freeze to death each winter, mostly homeless people and drunks.
The coldest temperature registered Tuesday night was in the eastern Polish city of Bialystok, where it was -26 Celsius (-15 Fahrenheit). Officials at Gatwick said the airport would remain closed until early Thursday morning, stranding about 600 flights that were expected to depart Wednesday.
The airport has added extra staff on the ground working ``around the clock' to clear the runways. Passengers were advised not to travel to the airport but to check with their airline or visit Gatwick's website for updates. Geneva airport will be closed until at least 2 pm (1300 GMT), said spokesman Bertrand Staempfli.
Zurich, Switzerland's biggest airport, reported delays and cancellations on the day many VIPs, including former US President Bill Clinton and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, were travelling to FIFA's headquarters to push their countries' bids to host the 2018 and 2022 football World Cups.
Airport spokeswoman Sonja Zoechling said officials anticipate heavy snowfall there from 1 pm (noon GMT) but expected to keep flights going. The European air traffic control authority Eurocontrol also reported severe delays at Berlin's Tegel airport and in northern Spain.