Ice-bound eastern town 3 days without electricity

Ice-bound eastern town 3 days without electricity

MAJDANPEK -- The town of Majdanpek in eastern Serbia has been left without electricity and other basic infrastructure for three days now due to severe winter weather.

The town lost its electricity supply on Monday evening when high winds and 15 to 20-centimeter thick layers of ice covered, and then severed cables on transmission lines located in inaccessible terrain.

The electrical grid company, EMS, said its workers were in the field risking their lives attempting to repair the damage, and described the situation as "unprecedented."

Hospitals in Majdanpek are now receiving power from generators, while schools remain closed. It is expected that electricity will be restored during the day.

In case this does not happen, the local authorities are planning to evacuate the residents.

Landline telephone connections are functioning, while the mobile signal is still week. The town has sufficient food and drinking water supplies.

B92's reporter was in Majdanpek on Wednesday when the local said they had no information about when electricity, heating and water supplies might be restored.

The nearby town of Donji Milanovac has also been without electricity for two days now.