Weather authorities in Bulgaria have issued a Code Yellow warning for 11 of the country's 28 regions over gale-force winds.

The regions affected are Silistra, Dobrich, Varna, Razgrad, Shumen, Targovishte, Burgas, Sliven, Yambol, Haskovo, and Kardzhali.

Bulgaria was hit by a cold snap over the weekend, with sub-zero temperatures and snowfall that continued for more than 24 hours in some areas. Cold weather is expected to continue for several more days this week.

On Sunday, heavy snow prompted the Bulgarian authorities to ban the traffic of trucks over 12 tonnes across the country with the exception of Burgas and Varna regions.

It affected a number of regions across Bulgaria, disrupting power supplies in some 1000 towns and villages and closing some first-class and minor roads. Some municipalities like Smolyan and Haskovo declared a state of emergency on Sunday with snow followed by heavy downpours blocking access to roads and causing rivers to swell. In the adjacent village of Rudozem, the Arda river has caused damage worth BGN 1 M, mayor Ruem Pehlivanov told the Bulgarian National Radio over the weekend.

Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova told public broadcaster BNR late on Sunday that half a million people across the country have been left without electricity.

In the regions of Razgrad, Targovishte and Shumen schools will remain closed on Monday, while in Silistra and Dobrich will not attend classes from Monday through to Wednesday.

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