Thousands of chickens were at risk of dying from heat inside an animal transporter on the A2 motorway in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt over the weekend, as scorching temperatures and a traffic jam trapped the vehicle for a prolonged period of time.
The lorry, carrying around 9,000 chickens from the Netherlands to an abattoir in Poland, became stuck in a traffic jam on Sunday caused by heat-related damage to the motorway, according to a statement issued on Monday by the Saxony-Anhalt motorway police service.
The driver called emergency services for assistance. Firefighters and veterinary authority staff first supplied the transporter with water and fans at a service station. When this proved insufficient, two police vehicles escorted the lorry through the congestion to the nearest exit.
While the escort allowed the vehicle to clear the traffic jam significantly faster, approximately 150 of the 9,000 chickens still perished. As a result, the veterinary authority has filed complaints against the operator of the transporter and other parties involved.
Germany was also hit by the severe heatwave last week, with temperatures reaching record levels. On Sunday, a new high was measured for the third consecutive day, with Coschen in Brandenburg near the Polish border recording 41.7 degrees Celsius. The extreme heat caused asphalt on several motorways to buckle, leading to roadway damage and prolonged traffic jams.
