Twelve regions in Northeastern and Eastern Bulgaria have been placed under Code Orange due to severe winter conditions, authorities announced.

Heavy snow, strong winds and blizzards are expected in the regions of Yambol, Sliven, Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Ruse, Targovishte, Razgrad, Dobrich, Silistra, Shumen, Varna and Burgas.

Code orange means intense weather situations with potential damage, injuries and casualties.

Shumen authorities have declared emergency situation.

Heavy snowfall and strong winds have impeded  traffic in several regions in northeastern Bulgaria.

Snowstorms and temperatures plunging to minus 19.2 degrees Celsius (-2.5 Fahrenheit) left three people dead in Bulgaria at the end of last week.

The frozen body of a 56-year-old homeless man was found on Friday morning on a street in the western town of Dupnitsa.

Two more people were found in the northeastern regions of Ruse and Shumen.

Bulgarians will not enjoy a snow blanket during their Christmas holiday and temperatures will be freezing cold, according to forecasts.

A new cold spell is to be felt across the country as of Sunday when the mercury will drop to -17C especailly in the north-eastern part of the country. Over the next few days lows have been set at 10C below zero.

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