Frozen Slovenia Is Witnessing 'The Worst Devastation In Living Memory'

Michael Kelley

Feb 5, 2014, 16:46 IST

Three days of blizzards have inflicted "the worst devastation in living memory" in the small Alpine country of Slovenia, according to local media.

About 50,000 homes lost power as trees and electricity poles buckled under up to six inches of ice after oscillating temperatures caused some snow to melt and then freeze again.

The result: A frozen landscape.

REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic

Two men walk next to ice covered trees in Postojna February 4, 2014.

The country faces millions of euros of losses as buildings and road became damaged while everything from trains to ATMs were frozen in their places.

REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic

An ice covered steam locomotive is seen in Postojna railway station February 4, 2014.

Authorities estimate that roughly half of Slovenia's forests, about 1.2 million acres, have been damaged.

This video, tweeted by Anthony Sagliani of Accuweather, shows how many trees are frozen stiff and how it affects the roads.

First, drivers had to figure out how to free their cars.

REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic

A man shovels ice next to ice-covered car in Postojna February 3, 2014. A quarter of households in Slovenia were left without electricity on Monday after a weekend of blizzards and very low temperatures wreaked havoc on power lines and roads, the national STA news agency reported.

And read road signs.

REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic

While also dodging down electrical poles.

REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic

A women with child drags a sledge next to a fallen pillar of the main power lines in Strmca February 3, 2014. A quarter of households in Slovenia were left without electricity on Monday after a weekend of blizzards and very low temperatures wreaked havoc on power lines and roads, the national STA news agency reported.

And more bad weather is reportedly on its way before Slovenians deal with the added risk of flooding once the ice melts.