Snow and ice wreak havoc across Europe causing deadly accidents and travel woes

Windmill De Vlieger stands in a snowy field in the town of Voorburg on the outskirts of The Hague, Netherlands, as snow and ice covers the country (Mike Corder/AP)

Snow, ice and freezing temperatures hit parts of Europe on Tuesday, causing treacherous traffic conditions that left at least five people dead in France and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights from one of the continent’s busiest airports.

Authorities in the Les Landes region of southwestern France reported three dead in accidents, and at least two more people were reportedly killed in the Ile-de-France region around Paris, where authorities ordered trucks off the road as snowfall caused huge traffic jams.