Road traffic on national roads returns to normal

Thousands of habitants from Buzău and Vrancea are still isolated, and local authorities said they don’t have the necessary utilities as to clean of the snow on the roads, which is over three meters.

CFR (Romanian Railways) canceled today almost 170 passengers trains, five branches are closed and on other seven traffic goes with limitation.

Over four thousands police, gendarmerie and fireman forces are taking part in discarding the snow, and nine helicopters are ready for humanitarian missions.

Time 11.52 - As declared by the CNADR (The Romanian National Company of Motorways and National Roads), the traffic of vehicles with total weight lower than 3,5 tons was allowed on DN 1H Aleşd – Nuşfalău, and on DN 57B Oraviţa- Bozovici all weight restrictions were lifted.

11.30 – According to the Ministry of Interior, the number of isolated settlements dropped to 75. Traffic is still closed on DN22 Râmnicu Sărat-Băile, DN 26 Murgeni-Oancea and DN1H Aleşd- Nuşfalău.

11:00 – Due to road conditions and low temperatures in classrooms, classes were suspended in 11 schools in the Apuseni Mountains, submitted Radio Romania correspondent, Claudiu Pădurean.

The County School Board of Cluj spokesman, Professor Horia Corcheş, said that 389 students will not attend school.

Authorities have closed 11 schools: School of Măguri Răcătău along with its three structures from Joseni, Suseni and Bogdăneşti, and also with three structures the School from Săcuieu.

Classes were suspended even in the School "Pelagia Roşu" of Mărişel with two structures, schools Călăţele with I-VIII grades and school of Dealu Negru with I-IV classes.

Almost 100 settlements in 25 counties are still isolated due to heavy snowfall in the last days.

Ten settlements are left without electricity, and other eight villages cannot be provided with water supplies, potable or for housekeeping, according to the latest summarization of the Committee for Emergency Situations.

Serious problems remain in Buzău County, where more than 30 villages are isolated and local authorities appeal for an alert state.

In Botoşani the blowing snow from the last hours are causing major problems on the main county roads.

Although they have been working ceaselessly with 31 machines, the road menders fail to outface the snow mounts that fill up on the road, consequently several county roads were closed again.

According to CNADNR, traffic is still off also on DN22 Râmnicu Sărat-Băile, DN 26 Murgeni-Oancea and DN1H Aleşd-Nuşfălău, but many county roads are still unfeasible.

Almost all over the country the snow and blizzard ceased

School activity returned to normal in 24 counties.

The decision of fully suspending the classes still stands only in Vrancea, while nationally more than 800 schools are weatherworn.

Five rail lines remain closed, and yesterday more than 200 trains were canceled.

In major part of the country snow and blizzard ceased, but now people and authorities must find solutions to remove the impressive amounts of snow that remained in the villages.

Forecasters say that temperatures will not increase so much by 1 March and hydrologists assured that rivers flow rates are low, and Danube’s level is below the average over the years for the month of February, the risk of flooding being low.

In addition, there is a high capacity of storage in reservoirs, which are ready to absorb the quantities of water resulting from the melting snow.

Translated by

AnaMaria Petrache

MTTLC, Bucharest University