Ice prompts state of emergency in Berlin

Berlin's fire brigade declared a weather state of emergency on Thursday after more than 180 people were injured due to falls on black ice and airports in Germany's capital were forced to cancel flights.

"The fire brigade declared a state of emergency at 0840 (local time) due to black ice and the increased number of rescue missions related to it," the fire brigade said on its website.

It said it had received about 50 per cent more rescue calls regarding injured persons than normal. Ice also caused traffic accidents elsewhere in the country.

Trains and public transport were delayed during rush hour and pedestrians took to the streets to avoid slippery pavements.

No planes departed from or landed at Berlin's Tegel international airport for two hours in the morning and 15 flights were cancelled.

There were also delays at Schoenefeld airport as the airfields had to be cleared of ice. Normal service should be restored by the afternoon, an airport spokesman said.

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