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| France Alps: Snow strands thousands of motorists in Savoy | France Alps: Snow strands thousands of motorists in Savoy |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Snow and ice in the French Alps have stranded thousands of vehicles for a second day, snarling up holiday traffic to and from ski resorts. | Snow and ice in the French Alps have stranded thousands of vehicles for a second day, snarling up holiday traffic to and from ski resorts. |
| The authorities in the Savoy region said up to 15,000 people spent Saturday night in emergency accommodation. | The authorities in the Savoy region said up to 15,000 people spent Saturday night in emergency accommodation. |
| Meanwhile, hundreds of air passengers were stranded at an airport in Chambery with some reporting a lack of facilities. | Meanwhile, hundreds of air passengers were stranded at an airport in Chambery with some reporting a lack of facilities. |
| The cold snap has also caused disruption in the UK and Germany. | The cold snap has also caused disruption in the UK and Germany. |
| Conditions improved on Sunday, with French forecasters lifting an orange weather alert - France's second highest - of ice and snow, according to French media reports. | Conditions improved on Sunday, with French forecasters lifting an orange weather alert - France's second highest - of ice and snow, according to French media reports. |
| The French government had earlier urged drivers to "exercise the utmost caution" and avoid travel if possible. | The French government had earlier urged drivers to "exercise the utmost caution" and avoid travel if possible. |
| One man reportedly died on Saturday when his vehicle slid into a ravine in the Isere region, while another man was reported killed in an avalanche on Sunday. | One man reportedly died on Saturday when his vehicle slid into a ravine in the Isere region, while another man was reported killed in an avalanche on Sunday. |
| Three more people died in snow-related incidents across France earlier in the week, the French daily Le Monde reports. | Three more people died in snow-related incidents across France earlier in the week, the French daily Le Monde reports. |
| Separately, a British ski company called Crystal Ski says it has arranged emergency flights to help bring home hundreds of holidaymakers stuck at Chambery Airport, in the Savoy region. | Separately, a British ski company called Crystal Ski says it has arranged emergency flights to help bring home hundreds of holidaymakers stuck at Chambery Airport, in the Savoy region. |
| Local gyms and community halls were opened up as shelters for stranded motorists on Saturday. | Local gyms and community halls were opened up as shelters for stranded motorists on Saturday. |
| Motorists seeking accommodation "stormed" the Chambery exhibition centre, according to the website of Le Dauphine Libere newspaper (in French). | Motorists seeking accommodation "stormed" the Chambery exhibition centre, according to the website of Le Dauphine Libere newspaper (in French). |
| Eleven hours | Eleven hours |
| British driver Gavin Rigby told BBC News on Saturday he had taken 11 hours to drive between Val d'Isere and Bourg Saint Maurice - a journey which would normally take 30 minutes. | British driver Gavin Rigby told BBC News on Saturday he had taken 11 hours to drive between Val d'Isere and Bourg Saint Maurice - a journey which would normally take 30 minutes. |
| Mr Rigby, who was returning to the UK with his family from a skiing holiday, said they had received no help from the French authorities, and had had to rely on other motorists for information. | Mr Rigby, who was returning to the UK with his family from a skiing holiday, said they had received no help from the French authorities, and had had to rely on other motorists for information. |
| He felt most sorry for the drivers who had, unlike himself, set out without snow chains. | He felt most sorry for the drivers who had, unlike himself, set out without snow chains. |
| "The police should have got people to fit chains this morning after half a metre [20 in] of snow fell last night," he said. | "The police should have got people to fit chains this morning after half a metre [20 in] of snow fell last night," he said. |
| Strong winds caused damage elsewhere in France, shutting the port of Calais, where an anti-migrant fence was partially toppled. | Strong winds caused damage elsewhere in France, shutting the port of Calais, where an anti-migrant fence was partially toppled. |
| Closer to Paris, the celebrated gardens of Versailles were closed to the public because of gales. | Closer to Paris, the celebrated gardens of Versailles were closed to the public because of gales. |
| Heavy snow caused disruption to roads in Germany too, causing a 25km (16-mile) traffic jam on the A8 motorway near Stuttgart. | Heavy snow caused disruption to roads in Germany too, causing a 25km (16-mile) traffic jam on the A8 motorway near Stuttgart. |
| In the UK, weather warnings of ice and snow were also in place across the country. Hundreds of homes were without power in parts of England on Saturday, including nearly 500 in the East Midlands and nearly 300 in Devon. | In the UK, weather warnings of ice and snow were also in place across the country. Hundreds of homes were without power in parts of England on Saturday, including nearly 500 in the East Midlands and nearly 300 in Devon. |