Straubing (dpa/lby) – Heavy snowfall on Friday night led to a large number of accidents in parts of southern and eastern Bavaria and hampered morning commuter traffic. There were a few accidents, especially in eastern Bavaria, but they were largely minor. The police headquarters in Oberpfalz alone reported almost 600 weather-related operations in the morning. There were 109 accidents with property damage. In 14 cases, people were slightly injured.

Several roads had to be completely or partially closed, including the federal highway 85 near Auerbach and parts of the B16 between the towns of Hauzendorf and Nittenau.

The Ministry of Education canceled school classes in the Lower Bavarian districts of Freyung-Grafenau and Regen and in the district of Cham (Upper Palatinate) on Thursday evening due to the heavy snowfall. In the districts of Straubing-Bogen and Deggendorf, there are no classes in the communities north of the Danube or in Deggendorf itself. In eastern Bavaria, the railway lines between Lam and Cham and between Cham and Waldmünchen were also closed.

The German Weather Service predicted further snowfall for the high altitudes of the Bavarian Forest. According to the forecast, strong gusts of wind can lead to drifts.