BRATISLAVA, Jan.14 (Xinhua) -- Heavy snowfall prompted local authorities in Kosice region, eastern Slovakia, to declare emergency in multiple locations on Saturday.
"The second-degree alert was put in place in Trebisov overnight. The first-degree alert was issued for the Kosice-surroundings district this morning," said Zoltan Bartos, head of the road maintenance administration of the Kosice region.
"All of our snow removal vehicles are clearing roads ... their passability is being maintained. There is a three- to five-centimetre layer of compacted snow on roads," added Bartos.
Trebisov mayor Marek Cizmar said that persistent snowfall necessitated a meeting of the town's crisis staff earlier on Saturday.
"Most importantly, we must ensure the passability of all roads that are crucial for emergency services before dealing with the other roads. The main road and its adjacent roads are all passable now," said Cizmar.
Snow-clearing work has continued on roads in neighbourhoods, pedestrian crossings and bus stops. The hardest-hit town overnight was Michalovce, where the first-degree alert was put in place.
Slovak Hydrometeorological Office forecast a snowfall of 30 to 50 centimeters in east Slovakia on Saturday.
