Frozen Britain: the Country in Chaos…Again

Vodpod videos no longer available.

先週金曜日から北ヨーロッパを襲った大寒波により、またもやイギリスの交通網はパニックに陥った（参考記事/過去のブログ）。クリスマスを間近に控え、一年で最も混雑するこの時期にあたったのも最悪のタイミング。ロンドンでも最低クリスマスまでは最高気温は1度を超えず、しばらく降り積もった雪が解けそうな気配もない。国際線利用者数世界一を誇るヒースロー空港は、ほとんど麻痺状態。キャンセルが相次ぎ、途方に暮れた乗客は、いつ来るとも分からない吉報を待つしかない。

UK’s traffic has been paralyzed since Friday, due to the big freeze affecting Northern Europe (related article/past entry of my blog). It’s the busiest time of the year just before Christmas and the cold front came at the worst timing. The highest temperature in London has been just 1º, and there is no sign that the snow piled up on the street would melt away, at least until Christmas. London’s Heathrow airport, one of the busiest airport in the world, has been experiencing numerous flight cancellations and severe delays, and has been barely functioning. Thousands of desperate passengers have to bare with never-ending waiting on the floor of the airport, with a slightest hope of good news, that may not come for at least few more days.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

航空便だけじゃない。鉄道も遅れやキャンセルが目立ち、ユーロスターの発着駅であるセント・パンクラス駅は、行列を作る客約6,000人が構内に入りきらず駅をぐるっと半周、その長さは何と約2km。この寒空の中7時間待ちだとか（以下ビデオ/参考記事）。それでも、その日に運良く電車に乗れるという保証はない。そんな人たちを不憫に思ってか、Salvation Army（救世軍）のバンが駅にきて、紅茶やコーヒーの暖かい飲み物を人々に振る舞った（記事）。

Not only the air traffic, but rail networks have had severe disturbances such as delays and cancellations. Today at St Pancras International station, around 6,000 passengers of Eurostar have been waiting on a queue, stretching 1.2 miles/2km around the station, for seven hours under this freezing sky (video below/related article). There is no guarantee that they could get on the board today, though. For these poor passengers, Salvation Army‘s mobile canteen came on site, handing out hot tea and coffee for a little warmth (article).

Vodpod videos no longer available.

この混乱に巻き込まれた方々には、本当にお気の毒と言う他ない。政府は、これは何十年も経験した事のない異常事態というが、厳しい寒波もこれで3年目。昨日のニュースに出ていた気候学者によると、厳冬傾向は今後も続くかもしれないそうだ。寒いのは苦手なんだけどなあ。。。

There is nothing I can say but sorry to these people in the chaos. The government insists that this is the extreme weather that country hadn’t experienced for decades, but UK has encountered this severe cold winter three years in a row. According to a meteorologist on BBC news yesterday, this trend may continue despite the global warming… I hate cold!!

↑トラックの横転により、混雑する高速道路／An overturned lorry caused traffic jam on the M25

↓ 金曜までのロンドンの天気予報／5-day weather forecast in London

Advertisement