Denmark has had a lot of snow since the 3rd week of November. Particularly hard hit is the small island of Bornholm. Its plight has been mentionned in media all over the world, among others, the BBC
Danes trapped by snow on island of Bornholm(Clicky for piccy!)Deep snowdrifts have trapped thousands of people in their homes on the Danish island of Bornholm, but extra snowploughs have now arrived by ferry.
There is so much snow that islanders have started dumping it in the sea - a practice normally forbidden for environmental reasons.
Islanders contacted by the BBC said needy people, especially the elderly, were being helped by neighbours bringing them food and medicines.
Snow has been cleared from major roads.
But police have told people to avoid using the roads unless really necessary, because the gap cleared is only wide enough for one vehicle at a time.
The small island, with a population of 42,154, lies in the Baltic Sea between Germany and Sweden.
ReinforcementsA helicopter flown in by the Danish air force is helping the relief effort and big snowploughs are now arriving daily by ferry from elsewhere in Denmark.
Gert Johansen, a receptionist at the Bornholm police headquarters, told the BBC that some homes were buried in snow, which was generally about 1.5m (5ft) deep, but in places reached a depth of 6m (20ft).
Norway and Sweden have offered to help, but Mr Johansen said "it seems like we have enough equipment here now".
About 30 rescuers have arrived from the Danish military and private engineering firms, he said.
In one case a woman trekked 7km (4.3 miles) on skis to help a pregnant woman whose snow-bound home could not be reached by a midwife, Gertrud Boesen at the Bornholm information centre in Roenne told the BBC. A rescue vehicle managed to get the pregnant woman to hospital in time.
Elsewhere the snow prevented one family from burying a relative who died before Christmas, Ms Boesen said.
Good neighbours
An emergency centre with a helpline is being used to co-ordinate deliveries to people running short of food, petrol, medicine and other necessities.
"It's fantastic how people are helping each other," Ms Boesen said.
"The snow has stopped falling and the sun is out, so it looks very beautiful now. We have food in the towns and the ferry comes every day. The only problem is that people can't leave their homes."
Mr Johansen said he expected life to get back to normal in about a week's time.
The small airport was closed for two days, but has now reopened.
Up to 300 people who arrived on Bornholm to visit relatives at Christmas had to shelter at a sports hall and a military base because of the snow, Ms Boesen said. Some visitors also spent Christmas on board the ferry as the weather was so bad.
"Bornholm has never before had snow like this - in such a short time," said Mr Johansen.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12088442Some photos from the beleaguered island :
In one case a woman trekked 7km (4.3 miles) on skis to help a pregnant woman whose snow-bound home could not be reached by a midwife, Gertrud Boesen at the Bornholm information centre in Roenne told the BBC. A rescue vehicle managed to get the pregnant woman to hospital in time.
Said woman was also a midwife and she heard on the radio that the first midwife was stuck en route in the snow in an armored personnel carrier. It took 7 hours to get the APC free of the snow so that it could collect the pregnant woman, who was in labour. She got to the hospital before giving birth.
Until Dernmark ran out of salt some 14 days ago, we had used 55.000 tons. That is what is normally used during an entire winter season.
The good news now, is that we have just taken delivery of 7.000 tons of salt.
The bad news is, that the temperature is so low, that the salt has no effect. In Jutland there has been night temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees C. Brrrr !
Any dramatic snow stories from the UK or elsewhere ?
Topic: Winter wonderland ?