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Snowstorms sweep across central France

The heavy snowfall in some towns and villages, up to 40cm in places, has caused chaos on the roads and cut power to nearly 200,000 homes.

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Heavy snowfall across south-central France, with up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) falling in some towns and villages, has caused chaos on the roads and knocked out electricity to nearly 200,000 homes, authorities said on Tuesday, reports Business Insider.

The unseasonal and unexpectedly large snowstorms hit across Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and nearby regions, south and west of Lyon. TV footage showed thick blankets of snow falling across highways and in towns, with hundreds of vehicles brought to a halt.

Some 900 trucks were stranded overnight and several hundred drivers abandoned their cars to find a warm and safe place to stay the night. People posted messages on Facebook asking to be rescued. Snow ploughs were deployed to clear roads.

Read more of this report from Business Insider.