Island roads closed because of snow

Joan Collins THE Guardia Civil's traffic department yesterday closed the section of the Pollensa-Andratx road which runs through the Tramuntana mountains due to the rain and snow storm in the island and were considering closing the Coll de San Salvador in Felanitx and the Coll de Randa in Algaida. According to Guardia Civil sources, drivers had been advised that great care would be necessary when travelling on the roads which cross the Tramuntana mountains. Due to the heavy fall of snow the use of tyre chains was necessary throughout the day on the Pollensa to Andratx road. However, in spite of this the traffic authorities were forced to close it around 5.15pm to prevent possible accidents as it was in a dangerous state. The road will remain closed from la Calobra to el Mirador de Ses Barques in Soller. At the same time, problems were being experienced in the roads in the Colls de San Salvador and in Randa and the Guardia Civil were considering closing them. All day there had been numerous traffic accidents on the islands roads (some 14 on Majorcan roads up to 5.30pm) according to sources at the Guardia Civil. In fact, all day snow had been falling above 400 metres in the Sierra de Calicant. However, in places like Puigmayor and the areas of Soller and Lluc it fell at above 600 metres. The storm left a layer of five centimetres of snow on the Serra de Tramuntana during the last 48 hours according to the Balearic Meteorological centre. At the same time, up to 32 litres per square metre of rain fell in the Puerto de Pollensa. Lluc registered 26.4 litres per square metre. In Alfabia it was 25.9 litres, Sa Pobla had 15 lites and Porreras registerd 12.8 litres.