On Wednesday, Romania experienced a severe snowstorm that resulted in widespread power outages affecting 200,000 homes across the country, as reported by Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan. Major highways and national roads were obstructed, and train services faced significant delays. In the capital, Bucharest, public transport struggled under 40 centimeters of snow, with fallen trees blocking road and rail traffic, leading to school closures in several cities and emergency services hampered by snow-covered ambulances in six counties.

Minister Ivan noted that, out of the 200,000 affected households, around 86,000 have had their electricity restored, indicating an ongoing recovery effort. He stated that 266 cities had been impacted by the storm, highlighting the extensive nature of the crisis. Energy consumption in Romania was reported to average 7.4 GW at the time, emphasizing the operational challenges faced by the energy sector in maintaining supply during such adverse weather conditions.

The storm not only disrupted daily life but also raised questions regarding the resilience of infrastructure in Romania and the capacity of local governments and utility companies to respond swiftly to natural disasters. With substantial energy consumption and ongoing difficulties, the event serves as a reminder of the necessity for preparation and improvement in emergency response systems, especially in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.