Over 50 settlements from southern Moldova blocked because of snowfall, blizzard

Chisinau, 18 January /MOLDPRES/ - Over 50 settlements from southern Moldova have remained blocked because of snowfall and blizzard, and the schools and kindergartens are closed in most villages of the Cahul district, a press officer of the Emergency Situations Service (DSE), Diana Turcanu, has said.   

The DSE representative specified that "in the last 24 hours, a team of 203 rescuers and firemen intervened in 46 situations of deblocking from snow banks with 52 special vehicles. The actions were needed in the districts of Causeni, Stefan Voda, Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, Taraclia, Dubasari, Cahul and Chisinau municipality. About 20 transport units, among which a mini-bus and two ambulances, were unlocked and towed. 

Turcanu also said that "presently, two settlements from Cahul district, five settlements from the Cantemir district, seven from Taraclia, 17 from Stefan Voda and 19 from Causeni remain blocked. Rescuers are on the spot and are ready to intervene whenever necessary," Diana Turcanu said. 

The press service of the Transports and Roads Infrastructure Ministry said that "some road segments on the highways Chisinau-Cimislia-Vulcanesti-Giurgiulesti, Anenii Noi-Causeni-Stefan Voda, the districts of Causeni, Stefan Voda, Cahul and Cantemir are snowed up. Additionally, 15 installations are working nonstop to clear roads of snow in these zones. The traffic in the centre and south of Moldova is carried out in winter conditions, which require the endowment of transport units in accordance with the provisions of the road traffic regulations in force."  

Contacted by phone today, representatives of the three Chisinau-based bus terminals did not answer to provide information on cancellation or postponing of bus and mini-bus routes.  

At the same time, the head of the weather forecast centre at the State Hydrometeorological Service, Ghenadii Rosca, said the meteorologists' warning of orange code of snowfall in southern, central and north-eastern Moldova, as well as of yellow code in north-western region, would expire at 20:00-21:00 today. "No other warnings are expected this week,"  Rosca specified.  

At the same time, the aforementioned Service said that the weather would cool on the days to come. Starting from 19 January, the air temperature will vary between -4 and -9 Celsius degrees during the day, and will drop to -6 - -11 degrees at night. Minimum air temperatures of -15 Celsius degrees will be recorded in the end of this week. 

(Reporter  A. Plitoc, editor L. Alcaza)