Numerous traffic related accidents have occurred in the capital Sofia and the nearby suburbs in the last 24 hours, the Bulgarian traffic police informs Thursday.

The capital has seen 284 accidents while 9 serious ones with 9 people injured have occurred in Bulgaria.

The roads are open for traffic, but police and the Road Agency advise drivers to use extreme caution over the snowy and icy conditions.

The "Republic" mountain pass is closed until 2 pm Thursday over a Turkish truck which must be removed, after being involved in an accident.

Trucks are to wait for the reopening of the pass while cars will be redirected to the Shipka mountain pass. The passes Zlatitsa-Etropole, Tvarditsa-Elena, and Troyan-Karnare are closed for trucks.

Police further warn that on roads in southeastern Bulgaria, particularly in the Rhodope Mountains, trucks should be without trailers while cars are required to have tire chains.