German authorities urge people to stay home amid deadly winter weather

A woman walks through a park covered with snow nearby the Cologne Cathedral amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Cologne, Germany, January 24, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen/ File photo

(Reuters) - Authorities in western Germany on Tuesday urged residents to stay home, warning of life-threatening danger, after a burst of winter weather led to hazardous roads, leaving two people dead.

The sudden onset of winter led to several accidents and people being trapped in their vehicles due to slippery roads and fallen branches caused by snowfall in many parts of Germany.