Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Bolea said that the chaos caused by the snowstorm on Moldova roads on Thursday afternoon reflected natural conditions, stating that this is how nature works. He defended the response of road services, praised field crews, and said on Facebook that people unfairly blamed him for the snowfall.
The minister reported that authorities mobilized 271 pieces of equipment and 263 workers over the past 24 hours and spread more than 2300 tons of salt and anti skid materials. He said services kept national roads operational.
Crews continue to intervene on heavily trafficked routes and on roads leading to border crossings. Bolea said he constantly monitors the situation together with the State Road Administration and other responsible authorities. He acknowledged that roads are not perfect and that difficult sections appear during snow and strong winds, adding that such conditions are natural.
Bolea said road workers perform almost the impossible in real conditions with limited resources inherited from earlier times with harsher winters. He criticized sensational statements and hysteria, saying they do not help, especially when they come from people who stay at home in comfort. He thanked road workers for their dedication, police officers for their humane interventions, firefighters for their quick response, and engineers for restoring damaged power lines. He stressed that teamwork helps the country overcome snowstorms and attempts at division.
The minister said roads continue to be cleared, noted that winter will pass, and called for unity. He also described the weather as a benefit for farmers.
On Thursday afternoon, a snowstorm and heavy snowfall blocked national roads and paralyzed traffic in the capital. Several people reported that some roads saw no clearing or anti skid materials, while traffic worsened as many residents returned to Chisinau from villages after Christmas celebrated according to the old calendar.