Freezing Rain Causes 130+ Ice Fall Injuries in Andorra Parishes

Andorra la Vella and Escaldes-Engordany parishes faced widespread black ice on Thursday morning after overnight freezing rain formed thin layers on streets and pavements, leading to over 130 people treated at Nostra Senyora de Meritxell Hospital's emergency department for fall-related injuries.

The Servei Andorrà d'Atenció Sanitària (SAAS) reported 256 triage cases that day, with 201 involving adults over 14 for trauma. Around two-thirds—134 cases—stemmed directly from slips on ice, primarily wrist and elbow fractures from bracing impacts. More severe injuries included femur and vertebral breaks. Ambulances handled 53 callouts, firefighters 15, mostly in the central parishes. The trauma section later overwhelmed as delayed pain brought more patients.

Local councils activated response teams Wednesday evening amid forecasts of snow and low temperatures, but no specific warnings for freezing rain came from the Meteorological Service or Civil Protection, officials said. In Andorra la Vella, the Hygiene Department led operations starting at 10pm, deploying eight vehicles and 14 workers, bolstered by Environment and Works teams. Salting targeted high-risk spots like school access, steep slopes, and pedestrian areas from 4am, intensifying by 6am. Over 10 tonnes of potash treated roads and paths. Circulation services fielded 38 alerts, Citizen Space five more—all routed to Hygiene for priority action. Alerts intensified after 10:30am via social media.

Escaldes-Engordany began at 11pm following guard team checks, with snowploughs scouting ice in the centre, Sant Jaume, Vilars road, and Plana road. Efforts ramped up at 4am with extra ploughs and quads, then 6am manual salting at hospital, schools, avenues like Carlemany, squares, and parks. About 4,900kg of salt spread, though rain and cold slowed its effect until later morning. Circulation aided 10 emergency responses.

The episode hit central valleys hardest due to thermal inversion, sparing higher parishes like Encamp. Canillo spread seven tonnes of salt with 10 machines and 17 workers, no falls reported. La Massana salted from 4am except Pal and Arinsal, posting slippery surface signs, zero incidents. Ordino logged two falls; its snow service used five salt jeeps, one Unimog, two quads, and four shovel workers from early morning.

Residents complained of untreated ice early on, citing falls in spots like Plaça del Poble, Baixada del Govern, and Prat de la Creu. Cònsol Menor Olalla Losada said teams prioritised sensitive zones but doubled efforts amid unexpected severity.

On Friday, Andorra la Vella's Cònsol Major Sergi González apologised for incidents, calling it an exceptional freezing rain event hard to predict. He pledged protocol reviews for better anticipation, noting 60km of pavements demand prioritisation. Escaldes echoed solidarity, holding a working group to assess responses. Transport Secretary David Forné countered that low-temperature alerts reached councils Wednesday.

Councils maintain ongoing monitoring as cold persists.