Difficult movement on Moldova's roads

Chisinau, 18 March /MOLDPRES/ - The movement is difficult on Moldova’s roads and rescuers unlocked four vehicles blocked on roads buried in snow.

According to data by the State Roads’ Administration, 242 technology units were involved in works of patrolling, cleaning snow and fighting ice, as well as 302 workers, who spread over 1,300 tons and anti-skid material.  

The quoted source noted that there are difficulties of movement on the following road segments: R1 Chisinau – Ungheni, R16 Balti – Falesti – Sculeni and R8 Edinet - Otaci – border with Ukraine. Enterprises for maintenance of roads organized mobile teams of towing high-tonnage trucks on the aforementioned road segments.  

Contacted by MOLDPRES, the press officer of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU), Liliana Puscasu, said that rescuers had intervened on local roads from the districts of Rezina, Soldanesti, Ungheni and Dubasari. ‘’In all, three touring cars and one lorry carrying bread were de-blocked,’’ Puscasu said.  

For its part, the National patrol Inspectorate (INP), informed that patrol crews presently accompany special vehicles for cleaning snow on roads and spread anti-skid material. INP representatives said that there are no blocked roads; yet, transport units move with difficulty. At the same time, because of the blizzard, the state of roads may sharply change.  

The Chisinau acting mayor, Silvia Radu, informed that the local authorities had ruled to close the Vadul lui Voda Street from Chisinau. ‘’Vehicles and technology units are on the ground and work to clean streets,’’ Radu noted.  

IGSU data shows that, at present, the settlement Cioc-Maidan from the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia still remains disconnected from power supply.

At the same time, the Border Police said that, because of ice bridges on the Dniester river, the wharf-type customs checkpoints Cosauti and Soroca remain ceased.   

Also, according to the Chisinau International Airport, the air traffic is carried out in winter conditions. All technology is involved in the process of cleaning snow and technical units constantly intervene in order to ensure optimum conditions for carrying out the flights in full safety. At present, there are delays in the take-off of a plane flying to London and a flight to Bucharest was cancelled. At the same time, there are delays at the landing of planes flying from Venice, Dublin and Istanbul. Also, the arrival of a plane from Bucharest was cancelled too.

According to the State Hydrometeorological Service, today, the following air temperatures were recorded in Moldova:  -4 - -10 degrees in the northern region, -2 - -8 degrees in the central Moldova and 0 - -3 in the southern region. Heavy snowfall was registered in northern Moldova, partially moderate snowfall was recorded in the central and southern zones. The sky was mostly cloudy, with blizzard in the northern region, with gusting in places.  

Meteorologists informed about a Yellow Code of snowfall, glazed frost, wind and cold waves. The warning is valid for 17-22 March.  

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor A. Raileanu)