"Can't Leave Colleagues Behind, Spanish Nurse Commutes Through 50cm Snowstorm Alone"

Spain Records Highest Snowfall in 50 Years Since 1971
Train Stations and Airports Cut Off, Causing Traffic Paralysis

Spanish medical staff commuting to the hospital through heavy snowfall. / Photo by Twitter video capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Despite the paralysis of transportation caused by record-breaking snowfall in Spain, the story of medical staff walking to the hospital to switch shifts with their colleagues is touching many.

On the 10th (local time), according to the Spanish local media 'Cadena SER Radio,' nursing assistant Raul Alcojor recently commuted on foot for about 2 hours and 30 minutes, covering a distance of 14 km to a hospital located on the outskirts of Madrid, the capital of Spain.

Earlier, on the 8th, Spain was hit by a snowstorm named 'Filomena,' dumping heavy snow on Madrid. According to the Spanish Meteorological Agency, the snowfall in Madrid from the 8th to the 9th reached 50 cm, marking the highest level in 50 years since 1971. As a result, a 53-year-old man living in Madrid was found dead buried under a snowdrift, and transportation was paralyzed due to the closure of train stations and airports.

Madrid is an area that usually does not receive much snow, so it is reported that there are difficulties in securing snow removal equipment immediately. The problem is that the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is severe, so medical staff must continue to come to work.

A man is snowboarding in downtown Madrid, Spain, where heavy snow fell on the 10th (local time). / Photo by Yonhap News

Alcojor explained to local media, "My colleagues had been working for more than 24 hours," and "Conscientiously, I could not just stay at home alone," explaining the reason for walking through tens of centimeters of snow to get to work.

It is reported that stories of Madrid medical staff walking to work, like Alcojor, are being shared on social networking services (SNS) in Spain.

Salvador Illa, Spain's Minister of Health, also expressed gratitude for the dedication of medical staff filling the medical gap.

Minister Illa wrote on his Twitter account, "I salute the young medical staff who walked long distances through the snow to come to the hospital," and "All health workers in Spain are showing the spirit of solidarity and dedication."

Spanish netizens also left messages of thanks to the medical staff through comments such as "Thanks to your dedication, vulnerable groups could survive," "You are the real heroes," and "Thank you very much."

Meanwhile, the Spanish Meteorological Agency pointed to Filomena as the cause of this Madrid snowfall. Cold air descending from Siberia and a temperate low-pressure system rising from the south met on the Iberian Peninsula, forming a massive snowstorm.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.