Freezing rain forced the suspension of flights at Vienna International Airport on Tuesday, as severe winter weather continued to disrupt travel across parts of Central Europe, including Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

The latest disruptions followed days of snowstorms, freezing temperatures and gale-force winds that swept across Europe last week, killing about 15 people, disrupting transportation networks, shutting schools and cutting electricity supply to hundreds of thousands.

At Vienna airport, a thick layer of ice formed on the runways, prompting authorities to divert arriving flights to alternative airports.

All departing flights were placed on hold early Tuesday as safety operations continued on the icy runways.

Austria’s state-owned railway operator, OeBB, also advised passengers to postpone non-essential journeys.

The company said several train services were facing interruptions and cancellations due to the harsh weather conditions.

In neighbouring Slovakia, operations at Bratislava airport were similarly affected.

The airport was closed early Tuesday as freezing rain and snow made conditions unsafe for aircraft movements.

Slovak police, in a message posted on Facebook, urged residents to avoid travel because of “extreme” ice and snow in the western part of the country.

In the Czech Republic, icy conditions also disrupted both road and rail transportation.

Prague airport was brought to a near standstill, with emergency crews deployed to de-ice airport runways to restore operations.

Prague’s emergency services reported that around 50 people were treated for injuries linked to the icy conditions.

The information was confirmed by the CTK news agency, which cited local emergency authorities.

In Hungary, meteorological agencies issued warnings for freezing rain and snowfall as severe winter weather spread across much of the country.

Rail and air travel experienced delays, adding to disruptions already affecting commuters and travellers.

Authorities also reported the presence of drift ice on the Danube and Tisza rivers, prompting icebreakers to be placed on alert.

Lake Balaton, located in western Hungary, has frozen over, a phenomenon that occurs only once every ten to fifteen years.

Despite the frozen surface, authorities warned that the ice remains too thin for recreational activities.

Members of the public were urged to exercise caution and avoid skating or venturing onto the frozen lake.