The most serious problems with electricity supply have been reported in the Kolubara, Mačva and Zlatibor districts.
Heavy snowfall has left parts of western Serbia without electricity for a fifth consecutive day, disrupted traffic on most roads, and forced public transport in Belgrade to operate on a reduced schedule.
Due to high river levels and ongoing power outages, a state of emergency has been declared in Osečina, Loznica, Vladimirci, Krupanj, parts of the municipality of Priboj, and in Mali Zvornik in the western part of the country.
The most serious problems with electricity supply have been reported in the Kolubara, Mačva and Zlatibor districts.
Radio Television of Serbia reported that residents of the village of Šljivova near Krupanj have been without power for five days. Krupanj municipality mayor Mladen Stefanović said the number of repair crews in the field has been increased to restore electricity supply. Commenting on the snowfall and the cold wave, Prime Minister Đuro Macut told public television that the situation is under control, noting that while the power distribution network is under heavy strain in several locations, faults are being repaired.
State-owned company Roads of Serbia announced that a ban on heavy truck traffic is in force in western regions around Valjevo, Požega, Užice, Novi Pazar, Ivanjica and Kruševac, as well as in eastern Serbia near Zaječar.
Snowfall has led to shortened routes on several public transport lines in Belgrade, while buses have temporarily replaced trolleybuses on their usual routes. In the morning hours of January 8, most streets in the capital remained uncleared of accumulated snow.
Over the past several days, snow cover in some parts of Serbia has reached up to 30 centimeters.
The Republic Hydrometeorological Institute warned that very cold weather is expected across most of the country on Friday, January 9, with minimum temperatures dropping to –14°C in the north and to –10°C in southern and southeastern regions. | BGNES