Bulgaria, Romania hit by snowstorms
03/01/2008Heavy snowstorms have hit Romania and Bulgaria, causing disruption to travel schedules.
Substantial snowfall led to the closure of Bucharest's two airports, leaving many holidaymakers relying on their travel insurance, and cut power to hundreds of towns and villages.
Weather forecasters said that temperatures in Romania could fall as low as minus 16 degrees Celsius, Reuters reports.
In Bulgaria, a popular skiing destination, two days of snow and strong winds cut electricity to more than 300 towns and villages.
A state of emergency was declared in both northern and southern parts of the country and the army was called in to clear blocked roads and help stranded motorists.
The closure of the Giurgiu customs post on the Danube River border between Romania and Bulgaria was closed, leaving some 1,300 Romanian tourists stranded in Bulgaria.