Heavy snowfall, strong winds in Bulgaria close some roads, mountain passes
Bulgarian authorities closed Troyan Pass and the Assenovgrad – Plovdiv road to all traffic on February 26 as heavy snowfall and strong winds swept the country.
The severe winter weather conditions made driving conditions on motorways difficult and traffic authorities urged motorists to postpone trips unless they were urgent.
The Kulata border checkpoint with Greece was closed to heavy goods vehicles.
The Predela, Pamporovo, Rozhen and Prevala mountain passes, the road between Batak and Dospat, the Trakiya Motorway in the direction of Sofia from Pazardzhik, were all closed to heavy goods vehicles.
Sofia Airport was experiencing some minor flight delays, and the airport called on passengers to depart well in time to reach the airport. Runway-clearing and de-icing of aircraft were being carried out.
Bulgarian state railways BDZ said that trains were running according to schedule. Emergency teams from the National Railway Infrastructure Company were clearing areas of heavy snowfall.
In Greece, heavy snowfall, particularly in northern and central Greece, led to serious traffic problems and the closing of dozens of schools on February 26, Kathimerini reported.
In the Republic of Macedonia, there were heavy snowfalls, and while most national roads were open, some mountain passes were closed, the Independent Balkan News Agency said on February 26.
In Romania’s capital Bucharest, schools were ordered closed on February 26 and 27 because of severe winter conditions, Nine O’Clock reported.
