Bitter Winter Cuts off Villages in Serbia

Heavy snowfall in Serbia has left over 11,000 citizens in 6,500 households cut off and potentially freezing.

The authorities said the death toll from a week of freezing weather in Serbia has grown to six, while another person, from rural Medvedja, in the south, is missing.

The Interior Ministry's emergency sector has declared a state of emergency in 18 municipalities due to the weather.

Goran Nikolic, from the emergency sector, said that snow was also blocking traffic on regional and main roads, though most are passable.

Problems persist on local roads in higher mountain areas, which are being cleared, he added.

“More than 30 rescue and care operations were carried out on Thursday,” he said, adding that the previous night was more peaceful and no new deaths due to low temperatures were reported.