Hundreds trapped in vehicles overnight on Spanish roads as snow brings chaos

Heavy snow across Spain has made dozens of roads impassable, including the A3, the main artery between Madrid and Valencia, were hundreds of drivers were trapped overnight.
The Civil Guard reported that around 500 people were forced to spend Thursday night in their cars on the A-3 in the province of Cuenca after becoming trapped in a snowstorm.
IN PICS: Historic town of Ronda cut off as cold front reaches Costa del Sol
The DGT road authorities also reported that 14 roads in the Alicante region, including the A-31 in Villena are impassable and six roads in Castellón including the A-23 and n-232 are blocked. They advised drivers to visit their website to check the state of the roads before starting a journey.
Para tener información actualizada sobre el estado de las carreteras consulta esta página de @DGTes o llama al 011https://t.co/rZll3BghfF pic.twitter.com/PrOMO88wCr
— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) January 20, 2017
The State Meteorological Agency AEMET has issued red weather warnings across Castellón and Valencia as the bad weather continues through Friday.
20/01 12:01 #AEMET #avisos nivel rojo por nevadas para hoy en C. Valenciana +info https://t.co/Y2PMOKDjuU pic.twitter.com/UdgEKpOalP
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) January 20, 2017
Amber alerts have been put in place across Teruel, Cuenca, Albacete, Murcia and Almeria as stormy weather and freezing temperatures bring snow, fierce wind and high seas to the southeast of Spain.
GALLERY: Amazing images of Spain's beaches in snow
Spain sent its Emergency Military Unit to the worst affected areas to distribute blankets and provisions to those trapped in vehicles overnight.
Efectivos del #BIEM3 colaboran en la apertura de viales en #A3 donde estamos repartiendo mantas, cenas y desayunos para 550 personas pic.twitter.com/VeADTaToz1
— UME (@UMEgob) January 20, 2017
The government has issued warnings urging people to stay off the roads in the snow-hit areas.
READ MORE: Spain prepares for the BIG FREEZE as Siberian winter approaches
“The situation caused by this cold front is exceptional,” Iñigo de la Serna, Spain’s Public Works Minister told Cadena Ser on Friday morning. “It has caused very complicated situations on the roads and is not expected to improve in the coming hours.”
The temperatures plummeted to -12C overnight in some areas.
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The Civil Guard reported that around 500 people were forced to spend Thursday night in their cars on the A-3 in the province of Cuenca after becoming trapped in a snowstorm.
IN PICS: Historic town of Ronda cut off as cold front reaches Costa del Sol
The DGT road authorities also reported that 14 roads in the Alicante region, including the A-31 in Villena are impassable and six roads in Castellón including the A-23 and n-232 are blocked. They advised drivers to visit their website to check the state of the roads before starting a journey.
Para tener información actualizada sobre el estado de las carreteras consulta esta página de @DGTes o llama al 011https://t.co/rZll3BghfF pic.twitter.com/PrOMO88wCr
— Guardia Civil (@guardiacivil) January 20, 2017
The State Meteorological Agency AEMET has issued red weather warnings across Castellón and Valencia as the bad weather continues through Friday.
20/01 12:01 #AEMET #avisos nivel rojo por nevadas para hoy en C. Valenciana +info https://t.co/Y2PMOKDjuU pic.twitter.com/UdgEKpOalP
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) January 20, 2017
Amber alerts have been put in place across Teruel, Cuenca, Albacete, Murcia and Almeria as stormy weather and freezing temperatures bring snow, fierce wind and high seas to the southeast of Spain.
GALLERY: Amazing images of Spain's beaches in snow
Spain sent its Emergency Military Unit to the worst affected areas to distribute blankets and provisions to those trapped in vehicles overnight.
Efectivos del #BIEM3 colaboran en la apertura de viales en #A3 donde estamos repartiendo mantas, cenas y desayunos para 550 personas pic.twitter.com/VeADTaToz1
— UME (@UMEgob) January 20, 2017
The government has issued warnings urging people to stay off the roads in the snow-hit areas.
READ MORE: Spain prepares for the BIG FREEZE as Siberian winter approaches
“The situation caused by this cold front is exceptional,” Iñigo de la Serna, Spain’s Public Works Minister told Cadena Ser on Friday morning. “It has caused very complicated situations on the roads and is not expected to improve in the coming hours.”
The temperatures plummeted to -12C overnight in some areas.
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