Prevala pass re-opened to traffic

District governor of Smolyan, Nedyalko Slavov, cancelled the partial state of emergency for the Prevala pass (South Bulgaria), the district press office said on 30^th of January. Traffic through the pass has been restored, but snow chains are obligatory required. The district crisis management unit monitors the condition of the dams and rivers in the area. Their levels are significantly increased after heavy rains in the lower parts of the mountainous area.

Passes and sections of the national road network are cleared and gritted. It is snowing in the high parts of the area, and the accumulated new snow cover is about 20 centimetres. There are no stranded people or cut off villages except for the village of Mugla, where snow ploughing continues, the district administration said.

Zlatograd dam and the sludge depository of Erma river are overflowing. The Arda, Varbitsa, Nedelinska and Madan rivers are being monitored, which are significantly elevated and the peak of their levels is expected today and tomorrow.

The ski zone in Pamporovo is not working today due to the strong winds and snowfall.