site.bta544 Schools in Bulgaria Cancel Classes in Wake of Heavy Snowfall

544 Schools in Bulgaria Cancel Classes in Wake of  Heavy Snowfall

Sofia, January 18 (BTA) - Classes at 544 schools in Bulgaria were cancelled as of Monday in the wake of the heavy snowfall across the country, the Education and Science Ministry said on Monday.

Over 1,100 machines were cleaning roads of the national network, the Road Infrastructure Agency said.
   
Work on cleaning the roads in Northeastern Bulgaria continues. Gale-force winds in the regions of Turgovishte, Rousse, Silistra, Razgrad, Varna and Dobrich make cleaning the snow difficult, as a result of which the road between Rousse and Shoumen via Razgrad and the road between Shoumen and Silistra will be closed to traffic until the weather improves.
 
The Republic, Obzor, Pechinsko, Prevala, Rozhen and Predela mountain passes are trafficable.  The Aitos, Petrohan and Rishki passes are closed to over 12 tonne trucks. Up to 3.5 tonne trucks can use the Rishki Pass, but only with snow chains and without trailers and semi-trailers. Traffic of over 10 tonne trucks through the Kotel and Vratnik passes is limited. The Dyulino and Pamporovo passes are closed to over 3.5 tonne trucks, and the Vurbitsa, Zlatitsa, Tvurditsa and Troyan passes are closed to traffic. The Shipka Pass is open to traffic, with the exception of heavy-duty trucks until March 31, 2016.

Individuals and carriers can update themselves on the situation from the free LIMA mobile application, the Road Infrastructure Agency website, www.api.bg, and on a round-the-clock phone line, 0700 130 20.

Snowdrifts, rocks fallen on the track and power cuts have disrupted railway traffic in three sectors: Most-Kurdzhali, Doulovo-Silistra and Komounari-Shoumen. In the rest of the country, train services continue under severe winter conditions, with possible delays, particularly along long-distance routes.