Monday is the third consecutive day with continuing state of emergency in Bulgaria after the prolific snowfalls.

The most criticial situation remains in the southern regions of the country, with snow reaching up to 1.5 meters. There is neither electricity nor access to water or food supplies in a number of villages including Rudozem, Madan and many more. Among the many consequences of the snowstorms are disruptions in telecommunications, road infrastructure, rivers reaching critical levels, numerous trees falling and thus blocking several main roads.

The state of emergency will also remain enact in Smolyan, Kardzhali, Laki, Velingrad and Sarnitsa.

Bulgarian Interior Minister Veselin Vuchkov, who submitted his resignation last week, stated that the issue of most concern remains the fact that over 850 locations have no electricity supplies.

Smolyan and 100 other villages in the area are some of them, where the access to streets outside of the city centers is blocked. Schools in Smolyan and Kardzhali will not be holding classes.

The situation in haskovo is gradually going back to normal, with over 90 villages cut off from electricity supplies. Gradually, access to roads is being restored through the efforts of volunteers, local police and firefighters.

On Moday, snow and rain will continue throughout the country.

Tundzha River near Elhovo will reach later on today the red line, indicating danger of overflow, the Ministry of Environment and Water stated. The situation will remain critical in the next three days, while Maritsa River will gradually decrease its volumes.