Romania: Schools Closed and Transport Halted as Heavy Snow Blankets Much of the Country
Heavy snow and blizzard conditions across central, southern and eastern Romania on Wednesday forced widespread school closures, disrupted air, rail and road traffic and left tens of thousands without power, authorities and news reports said.
A major snowstorm swept through the region, with parts of Bucharest and Ilfov county seeing up to about 50 cm of snow, prompting emergency warnings and the suspension of classes in several counties.
At Bucharest’s Henri Coandă Airport, snow and strong winds severely disrupted operations, leading to multiple flight cancellations and diversions despite ongoing snow-clearing efforts. Road authorities closed stretches of major highways, and rail services were hit by fallen trees on power lines, resulting in train delays and cancellations.
Public transport in Bucharest was also seriously affected, with buses, trams and trolleybuses operating under intervention plans as heavy snow covered streets and tracks.
Emergency crews reported interventions to clear more than 170 fallen trees and power poles, and outages were recorded in multiple localities affecting thousands of homes. Authorities urged the public to avoid non-essential travel as conditions remain hazardous.
This severe weather event is among the most intense of the winter, according to meteorological warnings, and has left significant parts of the country struggling with transport and infrastructure disruption.
