Despite warnings issued on Tuesday regarding slippery conditions on Luxembourg's roads and pavements, Wednesday morning saw several individuals experiencing accidents due to black ice.
Alongside a surge in road accidents leading to hospitalisations, pedestrians have also contributed to an influx at the Centre Hospitalier Emile Mayrisch (CHEM) in Esch-sur-Alzette. These incidents, resulting from slips and falls, have added to the regular patient volume, causing the A&E department to be well occupied.
Julien Carpentieri, deputy head of A&E at CHEM, acknowledges the higher-than-usual number of visitors. While space is becoming limited, Carpentieri assures that the situation is currently under control.
In response to the government's encouragement for remote work, healthcare staff, unable to work from home, instead proactively adjusted their schedules. This ensured that the emergency department at CHEM maintained regular staffing levels despite the weather conditions.
CGDIS: 77 people hospitalised by midday
As of Wednesday lunchtime, Paul Schroeder, the Director General of the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS), reported that 77 people had been hospitalised. By this point, CGDIS teams had already completed 160 missions. Normally, 200 to 250 missions are carried out during a whole day. 50 ambulances are on duty, an increase from the usual 30.
The crisis cell predicts that sleet will persist until 2pm on Wednesday, followed by a transition to regular rain and possibly snow in the evening. The duration of slippery conditions will depend on the prevailing temperatures.
