At least two persons died on Sunday in road accidents due to the severe weather. In both of the cases, the vehicles skidded off the road and crashed into roadside trees. Other tens of cars got stuck owing to snowdrifts and needed the assistance of rescuers. The number of police patrols on streets was increased. Some of the roads are impassable as the continuous snowfalls hamper the snow removal efforts, IPN reports.
According to the General Police Inspectorate, the first accident that resulted in the death of a 40-year-old man occurred on the G-89 km road to Nisporeni district. He was riding in a car driven by a man aged 44 together with his wife. The driver lost control of the car and ran this into a tree. The passenger died on the spot. His wife and another female passenger were rushed to the hospital. The car’s tires weren’t fit for winter weather.
The second accident happened not far from Chiperceni village of Orhei district. A 40-year-old man driving a Volkswagen T5 lost control of the vehicle at a turn and skidded off the road, ending up in a tree. As a result of the impact, a 49-year-old woman died, while three passengers were taken to the Orhei District Hospital with different traumas.
The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations said that a number of drivers needed assistance in southern Moldova. Rescuers towed away an ambulance that got stuck on a road in Ceadîr-Lunga town. In Dudulești village in the ATU Gagauzia, rescuers from Comrat took nine persons to the destination after a minibus running on a route, with ten persons aboard, skidded off the snowy road and was unable to continue its way. Rescuers in Cahul district towed away a bus running on the Giurgiulești-Chisinau road without persons on board.
The rescuers and police officers also offered assistance in other tens of similar cases in Orhei, Anenii Noi, Căușeni, Cahul, Comrat and other districts.
Drivers are urged to obey the speed limit and to avoid trips if these are not urgent, to properly outfit the vehicles for winter before setting off and to keep the telephone charged in case of longer journeys.
In emergencies, one can call the 112 Service.
It has been snowing heavily all over Moldova, primarily in the central and southern districts, since Saturday night and the high winds formed snow piles everywhere, blocking road sections. Over 150 localities experienced power outages. A yellow and orange code warning for the period was issued. The State Weather Service extended the yellow code advisory for high winds until Monday noon. The wind is expected to intensify to 20 m/s.
