Heavy snow blocks highways and pilgrims in north Spain

Heavy snowfall in northern Spain has blocked roads and rail services as well as pilgrims attempting to reach the city of Santiago de Compostela.

A fresh wave of bitterly cold weather on Thursday hit 33 of Spain's 50 provinces, the meteorological service said.

In the northern province of Leon, civil guards rescued 19 "disoriented" Catholic pilgrims, including three Koreans, a South African and 13 children, on the road to Santiago de Compostela.

In the small town of Aguilar de Campoo, north of Madrid, some 60 stranded travellers were put up in a gymnasium and a school, scenes reproduced elsewhere during the recent days of bad weather.

Aid services rescued around 100 people from their cars on the nearby A-67 motorway.

The authorities warned of a serious risk of flooding in Catalonia, northeast Spain, and the Balearic islands while more snow and ice is expected elsewhere.

The bad weather in recent days has already claimed the lives of two people.

A 70-year-old man died after his vehicle was swept away by flood water, while a skier was killed in an avalanche.