VIENNA, Dec 13, 2008 (AFP) - Hundreds of households were without electricity and road and rail traffic was still suspended in parts of southern Austria Saturday, as the region experienced further heavy snowfall. Some 500 homes in the Lesachtal, in the southern province of Carinthia, were without power and the local electricity company was unable to travel to the area as roads were closed after over one metre (3.34 feet) of fresh snow fell in just two days. The railway stretch between Villach and the northern Italian town of Udine, which had been suspended since Friday, was re-opened however, although other local stretches remained closed. Austrian Rail (OeBB) said some 350 workers were clearing the tracks and fixing power lines but it was still unclear when rail traffic could resume along these stretches. The army was also called up to help clear snow off railway tracks in both Carinthia and neighbouring eastern Tyrol. Authorities had advised residents to clear their roofs, as they threatened to collapse under the heavy snow masses. In Oberdrauburg, a stable roof partially collapsed, killing six cows. There were no other reports of injuries.
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