SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (AP) – Tens of thousands of homes in Bosnia were left without power Tuesday due to heavy snow and strong winds that also disrupted traffic in neighboring Croatia and Serbia.
In Slovenia, the search for an injured Hungarian hiker missing in the Alps north of the capital Ljubljana has been suspended since Sunday due to strong winds. On Monday, rescuers contacted the female companion and transported her to a safe location.
Authorities have issued travel warnings across the Balkans as snowdrifts close some key routes. Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia banned the movement of large vehicles and restricted traffic on the affected roads.
A mountain rescue team used skis to rescue a man trapped in his car on his way to a hospital for dialysis in central Croatia early Tuesday morning.
“We got him to the scene in time,” rescue worker Dario Cindric said.
Rail traffic in parts of Bosnia has completely stopped. Bosnia's state electricity company also said the situation was “very difficult” in some parts of the country. Heavy, wet snow knocked down power lines and made access difficult, the company said in a statement.
The worst-hit areas by the storm were northwestern and western Bosnia. In some areas, residents were without drinking water and schools were closed for a second day.
Local N1 television reported that dozens of vehicles were stuck in the snow for 10 hours overnight in western Bosnia, becoming undriveable.
Dorvaal town authorities declared a state of emergency as they struggled to clear the snow. City Council President Jasna Pekanak told local radio the town was cut off. “Many of our residents are stuck in the snow,” she said.
