Difficult travel conditions across Bulgaria due to heavy snowfall

The road conditions across the country on November 25 are exteremely difficult.

A huge traffic jam was formed at the Petrohan moutain pass. Heavy snow is falling in the area. In some places the snow cover exceeds 10 centimetres.

Image by BTA

Due to the heavy snowfall, traffic for lorries on all motorways in the country has been restricted.

Lorries have blocked the road E-79 on the so-called section "Pustrenets", before the town of Montana (North-Western Bulgaria). Civil Protection teams are pulling out the stranded. Traffic is allowed only in one lane, in the direction to Montana. The snow cover is 10-15 cm, but according to drivers there is no sanding. Due to the sharp drop in temperature in the evening, a layer of ice has formed on the road.

Over 370 snow ploughs are already on the ground. There have been incidents with no injuries or casualties. Fog and snow caused an accident on Hemus motorway, with a lorry hitting a car carrying 5 people.

"At the moment we have restricted traffic for heavy goods vehicles in the districts of Vidin, Vratsa, Montana and Pleven. On the road from Kyustendil to Güeshevo checkpoint, traffic is restricted due to snow clearing. We appeal to motorists to drive carefully and at a reasonable speed," said Peter Modev, an expert at the Road Infrastructure Agency’s Situation Centre.

"Traffic on Hemus, Trakia and Struma motorways is restricted for heavy goods vehicles. We advise motorists, if possible tonight and tomorrow, not to undertake journeys unless they really have to. If people need to travel, they have to make sure the vehicles are prepared for driving in winter conditions," said Insp. Georgi Milev of the National Police.

More than 170 snow ploughs are on the ground in Sofia and anti-icing treatments have already been carried out.

The teams and equipment remain on the ground in the capital.