Approximately 1,300 Romanian citizens are blocked in Bulgarian localities following abundant snowfalls in the past days, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs in a release on Thursday remitted to Rompres Agency.

According to data provided by Romania’s Embassy in Sofia, a coach with 18 Romanian tourists onboard was blocked in the vicinity of Biala locality on Wednesday morning. After three hours, it was unblocked and the tourists continued their journey to Bansko.

The same day, some 70 cars and two coaches remained blocked in the vicinity of Razgrad locality, 60 km. from Ruse, near a gas station. The Bulgarian authorities did not allow yet the cars to exit the locality due to some trucks turned upside down on the road. Emergency situation was declared in Razgrad locality. Another group formed of some 80 Romanian citizens is in a similar situation, isolated in Tar Kaloian locality, following the precarious road conditions, MAE stressed in its release.

Another group of Romanian citizens is blocked in Stara Zagora - Kazanlac region. Approximately 20 coaches and 10 automobiles, returning from Turkey, were deviated by the local police to nearest cities, where part of the tourists found accommodation.

A special situation is the one of a coach, whose driver ignored the Bulgarian police warning, and left Stara Zagora city, remaining blocked 20 km. from this locality. Despite authorities’ intervention, it is still unblocked.

At Romania’s Embassy in Bulgaria a crisis cell was created, set to steadily monitor the situation, stay in contact with the Romanian citizens and the Bulgarian local authorities, especially the civil protection, asking for their emergency intervention when needed to help the Romanian citizens. Following discussions with Bulgarian responsible factors there is the possibility that, during the day, the road to Ruse could be cleared, the release also shows. ROMPRES