Bulgaria’s bad weekend weather: Woman found drowned in Bourgas, situation still serious in three regions
The situation in most of Bulgaria on October 26 was normalising after the heavy snowfall, torrential rains and strong winds of the previous day, but the bad weather had taken its toll, with a woman found drowned in the Bourgas area.
In Gabrovo, Sevlievo and Lovech, the situation remained dire, public broadcaster Bulgarian National Television said.
After the heavy snowfall, a third of the households in Lovech had no electricity. Fifty villages in the Gabrovo region also had powercuts.
Emergency rescue crews were working but in places the snow in Gabrovo reached 60cam. Huge snowdrifts and fallen trees and branches were hampering the work of rescue teams.
On October 26, all motorways in Bulgaria were open to traffic.
Lazar Lazarov, head of the Road Infrastructure Agency, said units were on stand-by to respond to problems.
Shipka Pass remained closed to traffic but the situation on other major roads was gradually improving, he said.
The Samokov-Sofia road was closed and motorists should use the alternative Yarema-Bistritsa route, Lazarov said.
He called on motorist to travel only if this was essential.
“I urge all drivers to be very cautious and to take into consideration the winter conditions. If they have to drive, they must have a full tank of fuel, a charged mobile phone, warm clothes and food,” Lazarov said.
(Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
