Grounded train leaves 82 snowed in at a Madrid station
Monday, February 29, 2016 @ 1:02 PM
RESCUE workers have evacuated 67 adults and 15 children who were left stranded by heavy snow in the Sierra de Madrid last night (Sunday) from a railway station waiting room after the train they were travelling on was unable to get any further.
Some had come from Madrid city, whilst others had come from Navacerrada and Cercedilla in the mountains outside the capital in order to go skiing or hiking in the Sierra (pictured), near the town of Cotos.
They were on their way back, but their train was cancelled due to deep snow, leaving them stuck in Cotos.
Firefighters and the Guardia Civil were sent out and managed to bring many of them back in six all-terrain vehicles following a snow-plough.
Many had left their cars in Navacerrada and Cercedilla, and were dropped off at the station car parks.
A special train was thrown on at around midnight for those who had travelled to the Sierra by rail.
Some of the passengers remain snowed in at the station in Cotos, but over 30 beds have been set up and they are said to be in comfortable conditions.
The waiting room has proper heating, and they have all been given hot meals.
Nobody was hurt, although a 54-year-old woman was concerned as she suffers from high blood pressure – but emergency services say she did not suffer any problems.
The children rescued included a two-year-old, another seven aged between approximately four and seven years old, and nine more whose ages ranged from nine to 17.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com