The bad weather conditions in Sofia caused most flights to and from Sofia Airport to be cancelled on January 2 2008, the airport administration told the Bulgarian news agency BTA.

One flight to Bucharest, four to Vienna, two to Prague and one to Varna were cancelled by the airline companies. Arriving flights from Skopje, Bourgas, Varna, Bucharest and Vienna were cancelled.

All trains were delayed because of snowfall, Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported. The delays of trains arriving at Sofia Central Railway Station varied between 15 and 80 minutes. Trains left with five to 15 minutes delay.

Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) said that the situation would improve when the weather changes.

Public transport in Sofia was also experiencing delays, mediapool.bg said.

Some 250 special vehicles cleaned the city during the night, but streets were still impassable, mediapool.bg said. Public transport routes were cleaned, but bus stops and the subway entrances were covered with snow.

Sofia municipality called on people to use public transport, instead of their own cars, to prevent traffic-jams.

The National Road Infrastructure Fund said that roads in the country were covered with snow, the weather was cloudy, windy and snow was still falling. The mountain passes Troyan-Kurnare, Etropole-Zlatitsa, Tvurditsa-Elena and the Vubishki pass were closed.

The Rousse-Veliko Turnovo road was covered with snow-drifts, while the Loznitsa-Nikopol road was closed, BNR said.

All vehicles should use snow-chains on mountain roads and when crossing the Predela, Rozhen, Pamporovo, Prevala and Pechinsko passes.