Moldovan acting premier chairs meeting of commission for emergency situations

Chisinau, 18 January /MOLDPRES/ - Acting Prime Minister Gheorghe Brega today afternoon chaired a meeting of the Commission for Emergency Situations. The participants in the event considered the situation emerged in the wake of the last days' heavy snowfall, the government's communication and media relations department has reported. 

According to a report presented at the meeting, 74 settlements were blocked in southern Moldova all. The worst hit were the Stefan Voda and Causeni districts, and 16 localities are fully or partially disconnected from power supply. 

The Education Ministry said that 65 institutions from six districts (Cahul, Cantemir, Causeni, Stefan Voda, Taraclia and Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia) ceased working today, and the working regime was reduced at seven schools from the Cahul, Cantemir and Causeni districts. At the same time, pupils were not carried to schools on 53 routes in nine districts. Thus, 2,112 pupils from 59 settlements did not go to school today.

A number of 193 special vehicles were used to remove consequences of the snowfall,  with another 70 units due to be involved this evening, including the ones owned by the National Army and Moldsilva Agency, under an instruction by the acting prime minister.

Gheorghe Brega demanded paying special attention to people in need of medical assistance, among whom pregnant women, in order to avoid critical situations.

The State Roads' Administration informed that, at present, the institutions had enough antiskid material, and snow clearance works would last all the night long.   

According to the State Hydrometeorological Service, no precipitation is expected on the days to come. At the same time, the Service forecast a sharp drop of the air temperature, so that the latter will decrease to -20 Celsius degrees at night.

(Editor L. Alcaza)