The Municipality of Varna declared a state of emergency due to extremely strong hurricane-force winds and precipitation, the sharply deteriorated weather conditions and a risk to the health and lives of the citizens. Major roads were blocked by fallen trees and branches. Traffic lights and movable and immovable property were also destroyed, announced the Mayor of Varna Blagomir Kotsev. A 43 year-old woman was killed by a falling branch. Blagomir Kotsev has asked the Ministry of Education and Science to allow the students to switch to distance learning because of the conditions in the city which are dangerous for children. In response, the Ministry of Education confirmed that on Monday all schools in the municipality of Varna will switch to distance learning because of the disaster.

Yesterday, a man died in Sofia in an accident caused by the strong wind. The wind uprooted a poplar tree which fell on a moving car, killing a 65 year-old man and injuring a 54 year-old woman. In the past twenty-four hours the Regional Directorate of Fire Safety and Civil Protection in Dobrich District received more than 100 signals for fallen trees and evacuated people from stranded vehicles due to heavy snowfall. The snow also caused problems in other areas of Eastern Bulgaria. The situation at Shipka Pass is also complicated.

65 machines are clearing the road surfaces in the snow-covered areas in Eastern Bulgaria to ensure the safe travel of motorists on national roads. Road treatment continues in the districts of Burgas, Varna, Dobrich, Razgrad and Shumen, the Road Infrastructure Agency said.