Storm brings chaos to Black Sea

[Crostorm]

At least four sailors have died after their Bulgarian cargo ship sank in a storm lashing the Kerch Strait, just north of the Black Sea.
Rescuers from Ukraine and Russia are searching for the other crew from the Vanessa. There were 10 Bulgarians and a Ukrainian pilot on board.

The crew reportedly took to life rafts when their ship, carrying iron, sank en route to Burgas in Bulgaria.

Heavy snow has severely disrupted transport in Bulgaria and Romania.

There is transport chaos in the Romanian capital Bucharest, with snow 50-60cm (19.5-23 inches) deep in places.

Bucharest's two airports were closed and train passengers were hit by long delays. The airports later reopened.

Black Sea ports in Bulgaria and Romania have been closed to traffic.

Most flights to and from Bulgaria's Sofia airport were cancelled on Wednesday.

The snow also left more than 300 Bulgarian towns and villages without electricity and blocked numerous roads. Some villages have also been cut off from deliveries of food and fresh water.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/europe/7169556.s

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