New Ice Age in Europe: Romania

White Dream became a Nightmare

As snowing took over Romania, authorities were forced to tackle, in short periods of time, with calls from different parts of the country, from people asking help. Ambulances, police, firemen, everybody was asked for help, in places where people's houses were simply snowed under, but also in big cities, such as the capital, Bucharest


By ROXANA CIUPARIU (roxana.ciupariu@tosefans.com)
from Bucharest, ROMANIA

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Low temperatures hit Romania this winter like they haven't done in some years now. Several of the main televisions and newspapers in the country were "screaming" that this is going to be like the winter of 1954, which remains in the history of this country as one of the coldest and hardest, when snow could reach meters in high, and temperatures were really going below zero.

More than 50 people died this winter, mainly due to poor living conditions. The main highway leading to the seaside was blocked for days, with other principal routes to and from Bucharest being closed for several days, too. Images showed people leaving their cars in the middle of the road, walking or trying to call for help, while those who were commuting had to skip days of work.

This is something that other European countries, used to harsh winters, are always prepared to cope it and are always responsive from the first snowfalls. In Romania, however, the authorities, although warned that this might happen, failed to be prepared. Dumpster tracks were equipped only to push the snow from the main streets onto the sidewalks, while, inside the neighbourhoods, streets were to be clean by the people living there, only equipped with a shovel, lots of patience and some really warm clothes. But no real machines for dealing with snow and ice were used.

The white dream is not so dreamy

As winter comes every year, the question that arises is when snow is going to show up. For some, it appears just in time for Christmas and New Year's Eve, granting people, especially children, one of those White Christmas experiences. But, what people fail to see, is that beyond that wonderful and colourful idea of a snowy Christmas, other side-effects need to be taken into consideration: blisters, places snowed under, and the lack of some countries to tackle a very powerful and cold winter.

This is what happened this year in Romania. The country did not exactly faced a White Christmas period - except for in some mountain places, where skiing is the main activity these months, but had a rather peaceful, and somewhat rainy December, along with the first half of January. But, starting the second half of January, a cold wave moved to this part of Europe and started causing damage.

As snowing took over Romania, authorities were forced to tackle, in short periods of time, with calls from different parts of the country, from people asking help. Ambulances, police, firemen, everybody was asked for help, in places where people's houses were simply snowed under, but also in big cities, such as the capital, Bucharest.

Unprepared authorities

The poor condition of houses, mainly in rural areas, together with the unsuccessful combination of materials used in building them, allowed cold to enter and be kept, while the snow damaged walls and roofs. But what lead to this was not just winter coming when some thought it might not, but winter coming over some unprepared authorities. Very few mayors and city-halls were very properly equipped to deal with the heavy snow, decreasing temperatures - even Bucharest witnessed -21 C degrees, something rarely seen in this part of the country - and panicking people. As the main idea was to clean up the snow once it's stopped snowing, many people found themselves stranded in their own houses, with snow reaching their windows and even covering it, showing barely signs of life and asking for help when their more fortunate neighbours or the authorities came to check on them.

But that was not all. Traffic in Bucharest became a mess, as some cars were equipped with tires for winter, while others - such as Taxi cars - were not. Everyone was trying to get home, and in this chaos some left their cars at home, only to not be able to recognise them the next morning - as snow totally covered them - or to not be able to leave because a pile of snow, of almost half a meter was blocking their exit. On top of all this, the media could not stop but gave end-of-the-world-look-alike messages, which created panic among people, forcing them to behave dangerously once outside of their house, but also inducing huge shopping of basic foods, such as bread, eggs, sugar, flour, etc.

This proved two things: that the Romanian authorities are not able to cope with snow and low temperatures - something which could have been noticed in other winters too, thou not like this year - but, also, that people are prone to panicking and to guide themselves more over what the TV channels and newspapers tell them, then what they could find out on their own and believe in.