The access of about 30 communities to district centers and a portion of the R26 Ucrainca road up to the border with Ukraine remain closed, while over 400 villages are partially or fully disconnected from the power supply. In the meeting of the Commission for Emergencies on April 22, it was decided that the crisis cell will continue work, IPN reports.

Head of the Civil Protection and Emergencies Service Mihai Harabagiu said the critical moment was overcome, but over 30 settlements in the districts of Cantemir, Cahul and Causeni have the roads to the district centers blocked. The generators from the state reserve have been inventoried and can be put into operation at request. The United Nations Development Program expressed readiness to help with generators and fuel.

Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac said 452 settlements remained partially or fully disconnected from the power supply, with about 158,000 households being affected. The situation in the central and southern districts is the most serious.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Road Infrastructure Vitalie Rapcea stated that only one portion of national road remains closed, of R26 Ucrainca, which ensures connection with the border with Ukraine. It is estimated that this will be opened in the afternoon. A priority is to remove snow from the sidewalks so as to prevent damage and landslides following snow melting.

Minister of Environment Valeriu Munteanu said hundreds of trees fell along the course of the Byk River and, if these are not removed from the riverbed, the circulation of water, whose quantity is considerably higher, will be hampered even more and flooding is possible in the central area. The owners of ponds should ensure the controlled discharge of water, if need be, so as to avoid the bursting of levees.

Acting Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Iurie Usurelu said a meeting with business entities will be held in the morning of April 25 to discuss the supply of the sector with protection means given the high risk of disease and pests following the calamities.

Prime Minister Pavel Filip noted that the situation remains tense and the crisis cell will thus continue work. The army remains a part of the crisis cell. The generators should be distributed through the agency of officials in charge of the Civil Protection and Emergencies Service.

The citizens are urged to call the green line of the Civil Protection and Emergencies Service – 022 78 50 32 – to communicate all the problems and difficulties faced. The emergency phone numbers 901 and 902 can also be used. The operators will examine the appeals of the crisis cell and will distribute the necessary forces and means.