After a short spell of spring-like weather, winter is
coming back in Romania. The National Meteorology Administration has issued a
code yellow alert for heavy snowfalls and storms valid until Wednesday morning
in the mountainous regions from 23 counties. Another bad weather alert has been
issued forecasting rainfalls in most regions, with the amount of rain being
expected to reach 10 up to 20 liters per square meter locally. Snowfalls and
sleet are expected in the center, northeast and north of Romania while in the
south, after a period of rain, it will start to snow. Given the weather
conditions, the Mountain Rescue Service is in for a lot of work. Recently the
media has presented the case of two French tourists who were saved by the
mountain rescuers after a spectacular 11-hour operation during the night. The
two had got lost while they were climbing down from Cozia chalet in
Calimanesti, in the Southern Carpathian area, in Valcea County. Another case
presented by the media was that of 6 Dutch young people who got lost in the
Arieseni resort area, between the Vârtop and Piatra Grăitoare ski slopes, on
the border between the Alba and Bihor counties. They were rescued by the teams
from Alba and Bihor, who were joined by the mountain rescuers from Alba.
There have also been tragic accidents reported this
winter, many people having died or having been injured as they were caught by
avalanches. Other people got hurt on the ski slopes or fell into precipices.
Mountain rescuers recommend people who love the mountains to be cautious and
wear appropriate equipment, and to always check the weather reports. Tourists
are advised to download, free of charge, the Mountain Rescuers official app,
which provides the most comprehensive information and orientation guide in Romania.
Another piece of useful advice for those willing to climb the mountains is to
ask for information dialing 0SALVAMONT or calling the emergency number 112. In
the past week alone, mountain rescuers have had to intervene in almost 700
cases. Now, given the code yellow alert for snowfalls and storms, the rescue
teams are on the alert. The Mountain Rescuers Service has 42 units across the
country and an emergency dispatcher available round the clock, all week long.
In the past 10 years they have responded to over 260 thousand calls and have
saved more than 55 thousand people.