Movement of high-tonnage transport restricted on some road segments in Moldova

Chisinau, 18 March /MOLDPRES/ - The movement of high-tonnage vehicles has been restricted on some national roads’ segments because of the heavy snowfall.

According to the National Patrol Inspectorate, there are no blocked roads at present. The high-tonnage transport means moving to Causeni was restricted in the Anenii Noi district and lorries moving to Chisinau are stopped in Stefan Voda. The movement of lorries was restricted also in the northern Soroca district, in order to avoid accident-related situations. Nine TIR trucks stay blocked in this district, nearby the Tolocanesti village, on footway.   

At the same time, 15 lorries remained blocked nearby the Tatarauca village, Soroca district, because of the blizzard; a mother with three children from one truck were carried home. Presently, work is carried out to unlock lorries. At the same time, the movement is difficult under the railway bridge in the central Straseni town, for reasons that the water level of the Bic river increased. Also, patrol officers stop all high-tonnage trucks at the bus terminal in the Falesti town, in order to avoid blockings or skidding.   

Contacted by MOLDPRES, the press officer of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU), Liliana Puscasu, said that, during the last hours, rescuers and firemen made ten interventions to tow and de-block transport means from highways and roads of the districts of Rezina, Soldanesti, Ungheni, Dubasari, Chisinau, Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, Hancesti and Edinet. ‘’Twelve transport units were de-locked in all, among which also an ambulance, which was moving to a patient in the Edinet district. In risk situations, people are urged to call emergency services at the phone numbers 901, 902 and 903,’’ Puscasu said.

The Chisinau city hall informed that, at present, all streets and access ways from the capital are practicable, except for the Vadul lui Voda Street. During the day, competent authorities intervened to clean snow on roads and spread anti-skid material with 21 equipment units. The housing and utility administration acted to clean pavements, entrances into yards of apartment blocks and in stations of public transport, with 350 workers involved. Concomitantly, the municipal enterprise Association for Green Areas Management, intervened with five transport units and 68 workers to clean access ways from parks and alleys. The works will continue during the night and on 19 March morning.  Ways of access to public institutions: schools, kindergartens and hospitals, streets on which public transport is moving and roads to suburbs are to be cleaned as a priority. Local authorities noted that, if necessary, the municipal services will acquire additional transport units.   

According to IGSU information, the settlements Gaureni and Balanesti from the central Nisporeni district remain disconnected from power supply.

According to information received from the Chisinau International Airport, a flight to Turin and another to Istanbul are presently delayed for several hours.

The State Hydrometeorological Service announced a Yellow Code of sharp weather change, valid for 17-22 March. Meteorologists forecast snowfall, glazed frost, wind and cold waves. This night, the air temperature is to fall to -8 Celsius degrees in northern Moldova, -5 degrees in the central region and -3 degrees in the  southern zone.  

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor A. Raileanu)