National Army intervenes in snow-affected areas of Moldova

Chisinau, 21 April /MOLDPRES/ – The National Army has intervened with soldiers and special technicians to help the population to remove the consequences of snowfall, the defence ministry’s public relations service has informed.

According to the chief of the Operational Command Centre, lieutenant-colonel  Dumitru Sili, the intervention teams were set up in all military garrisons, equipped with technical means to act, at the request of the local authorities, in areas affected by snowfalls.

The source specified that the Dacia Brigade troops are operating in Cahul, while those in the Artillery Division are in Ungheni. Also teams of more than 300 soldiers of "Stefan cel Mare" Brigade, the Anti-Air Missile Regiment, the Guard Battalion, the 22nd Peacekeeping Battalion, the Special Destination Battalion and the Engineering Battalion are ready to intervene in Chisinau.

At the same time, the Ministry of Transports and Road Infrastructure jointly with the National Patrol Inspectorate temporarily stopped the access and the traffic on several national routes in order not to block the roads. These are dozens of routes and sectors from localities such as, Cantemir, Comrat, Causeni, Basarabeasca, Ceadir-Lunga, Chisinau, Dubasari, Nisporeni, Straseni and Cahul. Similarly, in the central and southern parts of Moldova, snow-clearing is carried out on national roads. Thus, during the night, about 230 technical units were involved in the work process.

Also, the Press Service of the Mayor’s office informed that in Chisinau, at 09.00, the number of broken trees exceeded two thousand. There are several blocked roads at the city level, including some access routes to suburban localities. As a priority, the intervention teams will act to unlock the main streets and the entrances to Chisinau. As such, all intervention teams within the municipal services are mobilized on the territory.

The Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Service of the Internal Affairs Ministry urges people not to leave their homes today, as outward weather can create major travel difficulties. After strong snowfall, the danger comes from the snow that hampers trees and can break them at any time.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor L. Alcaza)