– Romania uses army to save snow-trapped travellers (Reuters, Jan. 26, 2012):
* Temperatures expected to fall to -20C on Friday* PM says priority is to rescue stranded car travellers
* Blizzards also shut towns and port in Bulgaria (Updates rescue numbers, adds protests)
BUCHAREST — Romania has drafted in the army to rescue hundreds of travellers stranded by blizzards that dumped metres of snow on the ground on Thursday, derailing a train and forcing authorities to shut down motorways and ports and cancel flights.
Hundreds of schools were shut and by 2000 GMT dozens of towns and villages were still without electricity, as felled trees and strong winds brought down power lines.
Police and ambulance crews had rescued more than 1,600 people by Thursday evening but more than 1,000 cars were still snowed in on roads, Prime Minister Emil Boc said, and road authority officials were distributing tea and blankets.
Authorities have banned traffic on Romania’s only two motorways and several national roads until weather improved.
“I am asking you to not rest easy until you have made sure people’s lives are not in danger,” Prime Minister Boc told an emergency response meeting late on Thursday before heading out to capital Bucharest’s ringroad to inspect progress.
Read moreSnow Chaos In ROMANIA: Army Called In To Save Trapped Travellers, -20C Expected