The situation in Bulgaria remains difficult and serious Friday in the aftermath of the blizzard that gripped the country Wednesday and Thursday.

Seven municipalities have declared emergency situation. According to data from the power utilities – about 121, mostly small and difficult to access villages, remain without power.

Teams of the power utilities, Civil Defense, Fire Rescue Services and police are working round-the-clock to restore power, clean the roads and rescue people in automobiles stuck in snow drifts.

The situation is extremely serious in northeastern Bulgaria – in the regions of Ruse, Dobrich, Varna, and Razgrad, where the snow is continuing.

All traffic in the Dobrich Region is banned over the snow-covered roads. Tractor trailers of over 10 tons are banned all over Bulgaria.

From the highways – "Trakiya" in southern Bulgaria is open, clean, and with light snow cover; "Hemus" in northern Bulgaria is covered with light snow, cleaned, except in the section between the cities of Shumen and Varna, which is closed; "Maritsa" in southern Bulgaria and "Lyulin" near the capital Sofia are open, clean, and with light snow cover.

A number of mountain passes in the Stara Planina (Balkan) mountain rage are closed; tractor trailers are banned and tire chains are required for the open ones such as "Republica,""Shipka" and "Petrohan."

The same is valid for the passes in the Rhodoppe mountains such as "Prevala," "Rozhen," and "Predela."

All roads on the territory of the Dobrich Region are closed as is the road between the Black Sea cities of Varna and Burgas, and the one between Sozopol and Primorsko over flooding from the Ropotamo river.

A number of municipalities have also closed schools.

About 4 400 customers of the Power Utility CEZ, serving western and southwestern Bulgaria, are without electricity over the heavy snowfall, the company announces. They are mainly in the regions of Sofia, Vidin and Vratsa.

CEZ assure that emergency teams have been sent and are trying to reach all locations where damage is reported. At places, their work is hampered by fallen trees and snow-covered roads.

The power utility E.ON reports 150 customers without power in one village in the Ruse Region and 14 villages in the regions of Varna and Dobrich; the power utility BG-EVN – 106 villages in the regions of Smoliyan, Stara Zagora, Kardzhali, and Sliven with a total of 25 840 customers..

The weather forecast is for the snow to subside even in eastern Bulgaria by the late afternoon, but it will be freezing cold in the next several days.

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