Emergency in Bulgaria's South as Snow Cuts Power, Sticks on Roads

A state of emergency has been declared due to the heavy snowfall in the municipality of Rudozem, in Smolyan region in Bulgaria's south.

The alert entered into force on Sunday, 06:30 local time. It follows days of severe weather conditions across Bulgaria, but mostly affecting its southern regions.

In most of Smolyan, a key town in Bulgaria's south, there has been no electricity since 22:00 EET (20:00 GMT) on Friday evening after heavy snow and falling branches has damaged the grid.

Only vehicles whose tires are equipped with snow chains are able to make it across the town and its vicinities, and only first-class roads are virtually open. Second-class roads are completely blocked by the ceaseless snowfall.

Rudozem, a smaller town in Smolyan's region, has also been left without power.

Freight vehicles have been unable to move along the roads between the nearby towns (and municipal centers) of Kardzhali and Haskovo.

There have also been several crashes in the region, but no injuries are reported. Officials have repeatedly warned against traveling there, urging citizens to use only first-class roads.

In Bulgaria's east, the port in the Black Sea city of Varna was closed on Friday night due to the strong winds.

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