Snowstorm in Croatia: Sections of A6 and A7 blocked

A heavy snow event has hit parts of Croatia, creating difficult driving conditions across the country and forcing authorities to restrict movement on several routes.

Roads are reported wet or slippery over wide areas, while Gorski Kotar and inland Dalmatia have seen intermittent snowfall. Forecasters have also warned of possible landslides and of large pools of water forming on roads after bouts of heavy rain, and fog has reduced visibility in places.

On the A7 motorway, between the Rijeka East and Šmrika interchanges, traffic is prohibited for vehicle groups one and two — explicitly including motorcycles, vehicles with trailers, double-decker buses and delivery vehicles — because of strong winds and hazardous conditions.

Traffic jams and stranded vehicles

Additional disruption is reported on the A6 Rijeka–Zagreb route: at the Zečeve Drage viaduct several vehicles became stuck in snow, producing long queues. Near Delnice motorists face massive congestion, and the old road through Gorski Kotar is blocked in places where buses and cars are preventing snow-clearing machines from passing.

Meteorologists had been issuing warnings for days ahead of the snowfall, and services responsible for winter maintenance are operating continuously.

"The winter service is constantly clearing, but cannot do its job because of irresponsible drivers," people at the scene say. Officials and transport operators have also suspended some ferry, catamaran and boat lines along the coast until conditions improve.

Photo: press material from the event