Northeastern Bulgaria Still Grappling with Bad Weather after Heavy Snow

Much of Northeastern Bulgaria is still paralyzed by the severe weather conditions after two days of heavy snow over the weekend, authorities say.

The main problem comes from the strong winds which blow the snow back onto roads that were already cleaned, and the situation required the use of special plows throwing the snow further. Sub-zero temperatures that could fall to -20 or -25 later this week additionally complicate the situation, Lazar Lazarov, who heads the Road Infrastructure Agency, told the Bulgarian National Radio.

Another official with the agency told public broadcaster BNT on Tuesday the Razgrad-Shumen and Ruse-Varna roads in Northeastern Bulgaria was now open to traffic, but advised against traveling in the area, with gale-force winds and low visibility posing dangers even to snow plows.

He also warned that harsh weather conditions are still leaving third-class roads in some areas of Northeastern Bulgaria (the regions of Shumen, Targovishte, Razgrad, Silistra and Ruse) partly closed to heavy load trucks.

Electricity supply is still a problem in several areas of Northern Bulgaria, with 2000 people two municipalities in the northwestern region of Vratsa being affected by a blackout since Sunday.

Roads in Western and Southern Bulgaria are now open to all traffic, he added.

However, the Bulgarian National Radio quoted local authorities in Smolyan (in the country's south) as saying a partial state of emergency announced over the weekend in several villages (Mugla, Kiselchevo and Gorna Arda) would remain in force on Tuesday.

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