The Scandinavian countries are experiencing extreme conditions due to the snow, while in Sweden hundreds of drivers were trapped in their vehicles.

Rescuers spent the night trying to free people trapped in the snow in Skane, Sweden, while the army distributed food, water and blankets to drivers and passengers who had been trapped in the snow for almost 24 hours.

The chaos came amid plummeting winter temperatures in the Nordic countries.

Extreme cold has hit parts of Sweden, Finland and Norway, and snowstorms in Denmark have trapped drivers on a motorway near Aarhus since Wednesday.

The Kvikkjokk-Arrenjarka weather station in northern Sweden recorded its coldest night in 25 years on Tuesday night, with temperatures dropping to -43.6 degrees Celsius.

The disruption on the central E22 began around 09:00 local time (08:00 GMT) on Wednesday, when snow made it impassable in both directions between Horby and Kristianstad. Hundreds of cars were immobilized due to avalanches.

“It’s total chaos,” police spokeswoman Evelina Olson said.

Snow plows arrived Wednesday afternoon and police and rescue workers worked through the night to free people from the hundreds of trapped cars. Some had medical problems, including diabetes.

Rescue crews have started clearing cars from the snow-covered E22, but many of the lorries are expected to remain on the road until Friday
Erika Sepeliovaite told the Aftonbladet website that she and her two children and dog were released after 19 hours.

Malin Johansson, 56, from Ahus, said she and her partner had started their car at regular intervals to keep it warm. He told Expressen that they were freed when rescuers cut the main road barrier, allowing them to leave at 04:30 on Thursday.

Soldiers were sent to deliver food and water to the trapped.

“The problem is that it snows so much that the road is covered with snow just half an hour after clearing,” Ms Olsson said.

By Thursday morning many of the cars had been cleared, although the trucks were still stuck. Police said conditions were starting to improve, but added that the road would not be cleared until 08:00 on Friday.

Buses and trains were canceled in the Skane area on Thursday morning and authorities urged people to avoid unnecessary travel.

In Norwayin the Sami lands of the far north, in Kautokino, the thermometer showed -41.6°C overnight.

Schools remained closed in several municipalities in the south of the country due to transportation difficulties after the heavy snowfall of the last few days, and some are expected to remain closed tomorrow as well.

Motorists in the area were told by police not to take their cars and all train services between Oslo and Kristiansand (south) were also cancelled. In the Norwegian capital, the temperature is expected to drop to -25°C on Saturday.

In Finland, a new cold record was broken in Enontekio (northwest) where the thermometer it showed -42.1°C.