Strong winds blow down trees and branches in many places in the country

The strong winds have created a lot of problems in many places in the country.

SOFIA

Seven signals for fallen branches and trees were received at the Directorate of Emergency Assistance and Prevention of the Sofia Municipality.

The municipality reminds construction companies, contractors to secure construction fences and scaffolding.

Citizens should be careful when moving around and should ensure safety on balconies and windows and remove loose objects that may fall.

The emergency teams of the Metropolitan Municipality have responded to 7 signals due to the strong winds.

Sofia Airport said planes are currently landing and departing without problems.

The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology has issued a warning for strong northwest winds in the country today, March 28.

In the regions of Vratsa, Montana, Vidin, Lovech, Pleven, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv and Sliven the warning is of the second degree – code orange.

In the remaining districts of the country the warning code is yellow.

PLOVDIV

Train traffic has been suspended on the Plovdiv - Filipovo line due to strong wind and fallen trees.

Emergency teams are working to repair the damage to the overhead contact line.

A strong storm hit Plovdiv in the late afternoon yesterday and caused material damage, no people were injured.

The city's fire fighting service teams responded to nearly 40 signals about fallen trees, branches and building elements.

PAZARDZHIK

From last night until this morning, the Pazardzhik Fire Fighting Department crews have responded to five alerts of incidents that occurred as a result of the high winds, the city police said.

A fallen tree on the road between the villages of Chernogorovo and Topoli Dol was removed, two trees and branches were removed from streets in Pazardzhik, and there were two reports of overhanging metal sheets from buildings.

No people were injured and no serious material damage was caused.

SLIVEN

The wind speed in Sliven exceeded 80 km/h, the municipal Department of Security and Crisis Management said. Wind damage included snapped branches, a fallen tree, torn billboards and a damaged election tent. There was damage to cable operators' ducts. The owners have been informed and action is being taken.

There have been isolated reports of power outages. Teams from the Municipality and the companies are working on the signals.

LOVECH

In Lovech district several signals have been received about fallen trees due to the strong wind. Fallen trees are being removed on the road Lovech - Pleven, at the junction for the village of Bahovitsa and on the road Lovech - Sevlievo.

Traffic in both sections is not restricted, but should be carried out with caution, police warn.

In Lovech, a signal was also received about a fallen plaster from a building. Wind gusts in the city have reached 72 km per hour, and it has started picking up since midnight. Almost the entire district is experiencing stormy winds.

RUSSE

The wind speed in Russe was up to 86 km/h, the hydrometeorological station of the Executive Agency for the Study and Maintenance of the Danube River in the city said.

The wind direction is west-northwest. A warning has been issued to ship captains on the Danube and ports. The wind is forecast to ease at dusk.

The police said they have received reports of fallen trees on roads in the district. So far, there are no reports of damage. Crews of the municipal enterprise "Parkstroy" are removing a fallen tree on the street.

VELIKO TARNOVO

Strong winds in Veliko Tarnovo knocked down a traffic light controller at a busy intersection next to a large supermarket and three trees, and reports were received of plaster being blown off residential buildings. The traffic light controller got hung on one of the poles but did not fall on the roadway, the dangerous element of the traffic light system was removed.

Three trees have fallen on different road users - between the villages of Balvan and Emen, on the road to the village of Gabrovtsi and on the panoramic road to Veliko Tarnovo University. No people were injured, fire brigade teams removed the trees.

In the morning hours, the wind force in the region was about 32 kilometres per hour, with gusts up to 65 kilometres per hour, the municipality said. There were no reports of power outages.