Thousands of people in the Alps have been cut off from the outside world after intense snowfall took down train lines and closed down access roads, according to local sources.
Trains to the Swiss ski resort of Zermatt were called off because of avalanche warnings, which were at the highest level on Sunday night, and access roads had been closed down, said a spokesman for the region.
In the Austrian village of St Anton, access was only possible under severe circumstances. Police allowed vehicles to leave on Sunday night only if they were equipped with snow chains. Buses full of police and firefighters were sent into action to ensure tourists' safety.
It was unclear how long access would be cut off in Zermatt, with new snowfall expected. The region forecast up to 70 centimetres overnight on Monday.
The only possibility to leave the Swiss resort meanwhile was by helicopter. About 9000 tourists are affected.
This is the second time in less than two weeks that guests have been trapped at Zermatt by snow. The resort's marketing chief stressed at that time that tourists do not suffer while they are snowed-in.
