A snowstorm on the Balkans has left thousands of homes without electricity. Roads, both automotive and rail, in mountainous areas have been blocked. A state of emergency has been declared in several regions.
Heavy snowfall and strong winds have damaged roads in Bosnia, Serbia, and Croatia, with snowdrifts blocking key routes and halting traffic on high-speed sections of highways. A temporary ban on the movement of trucks has been implemented.
In Bosnia, several sections of the railway were completely blocked just before Christmas. On the evening of December 24, dozens of cars in western Bosnia were stranded in the snow for hours before they could continue their journey. A state of emergency has been declared in the affected areas, and intensive snow removal work is underway.
Bosnia's state-owned energy company has described the situation in the country as "extremely severe." In several cities, wet snow and strong winds have damaged power lines. Many people had to celebrate Christmas by candlelight. The head of the municipal council in the town of Jasna reported that the area was completely cut off from the outside world, as all roads were blocked by snowdrifts, some reaching up to two meters in height. There is also no electricity, and restoring power is difficult due to the lack of access to high-voltage power lines.
The bad weather also caused trouble for mountain tourism enthusiasts. In Slovenia, two Hungarian tourists got lost in the Alps due to fog and strong winds. Mountain rescue teams were dispatched to search for them. The injured woman was located and evacuated, but the fate of her companion remains uncertain. Rescue efforts were suspended due to the hurricane-force winds.
Just before Christmas, an avalanche claimed the life of a snowboarder near the Bulgarian resort of Bansko. Three friends were snowboarding in unmarked areas on fresh snow. They triggered the avalanche, which buried two of them. The third member of the group managed to dig out his friends and call for help. Mountain rescuers arrived at the scene of the tragedy within 15 minutes. One of the tourists was already dead, while the second had head injuries and was transported to a first-aid station. Medical assessments indicate that his condition is not life-threatening.
Due to the current weather conditions, mountain rescue services are warning of an increased avalanche risk. Utility services are advising residents of mountainous regions to stock up on water and food, as weather forecasts are not promising—another cyclone is bringing new snowfall to the Balkans.
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