MASSIVE SNOW CLEARING OPERATION

ONE main road and a handful of B roads remained closed because of snow last night and the Balearics continued to shiver at the hands of the Siberian weather front still gripping the region. Throughout the day, make-shift snow ploughs cleared roads in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains and by mid afternoon, the roads from Inca and Pollensa up to Lluc were open, although drivers were being urged to proceed with care along the Inca road. The Pollensa to Lluc road was only open to lorries and coaches with Guardia Civil traffic patrols on hand, to make sure drivers took things easy. Snow chains were needed however for many of the minor roads, although the majority of country lanes and farm tracks were still closed, lost under the snow. The Guardia Civil were however recommending the use of snow chains on all main roads in the mountains because of the black ice, especially first thing in the morning and last thing at night. The Bunyola to Orient road was open again yesterday afternoon but some parts of the Soller to Lluc road remained closed with melt water causing problems, loosening the road side, increasing the risk of rock falls and landslides. Yesterday however, it was not only the snow which was the problem but heavy, freezing rain which made driving in areas such as Son Servera, Sant Llorens and Artá particularly hazardous. The above areas were also some of the many which were hit by severe flooding. Yesterday afternoon, the fire services worked non stop, responding to at least 24 flood emergencies from Manacor to Alcudia and Pollensa while some units were set aside to deal with fallen trees blocking roads. There were a number of minor accidents and incidents although the worst happened at a viewpoint in the Sale del Freu region of the island along the Bunyola to Orient road. According to the police, the victim stopped to admire the view, but slipped and tumbled down a 20 metre drop. The injured sightseer was air lifted to hospital by a Guardia Civil helicopter. The Balearic port authority confirmed that all ports were open and that merchant and passenger shipping was back to normal. The director of the Balearic meteorological office, Agustín Jansá, said yesterday that in the 24-hour period from 8am Tuesday to 8am Wednesday, 91 litres of rain fell per square metre in Lluc, 30 litres per square metre in Minorca, 32 in Capdepera, 30 in Portocolom and 27 in the Port of Pollensa. The first signs of a slight improvement in the weather were evident yesterday and temperatures will climb slightly again today. However, while no further snow is forecast, more heavy outbreaks of rain can be expected today - but at least it is not quite as cold as in Britain.