Emergency State Lifted in Bulgaria's Burgas after Chain Crashes

Authorities have lifted the state of emergency in Burgas Region following a series of crashes that left traffic paralyzed along Trakia motorway and a bypass route leading to Burgas from central Bulgaria.

As many as ten villages in the municipalities of Burgas, Sredets and Aytos are still hard to access by car, public broadcaster BNR reports.

Nearly a dozen towns and villages in the region are still left without electricity, but local authorities say supply will be restored by the end of Sunday.

Hundreds of people were left stranded along Trakia motorway and the bypass route via Karnobat and Aytos between Friday afternoon and Saturday early afternoon.

Severe meteorological conditions such as snow, winds and ice on roads caused a number of vehicles to go off the road and bump into each other, blocking the lanes and resulting in a huge lineup of cars and trucks.

Along the smaller route, the blockade was caused by a TIR transit truck which did not heed authorities' instructions not to use it under severe winter conditions.

Roads in southern and southeastern Bulgaria are now mostly open to movement, but "under winter conditions", the radio has said.