Prisoners boost Romania snow rescue
- 12 years ago
Romanian prison inmates join the rescue mission to reach villagers trapped in their homes by three weeks of heavy winter snow.
They're working to clear schools, hospitals, and the homes of elderly people.
Entire houses are nearly engulfed by the drifts.
Grateful residents said the extra help was desperately needed.
SOUNDBITE: Ion, local resident, saying (Romanian):
"The snow is over the roof of the house. I can get near the house but the electricity panel is on the wall covered with snow. I'm afraid the snow could fall and smash the wall."
Police said they had donated food and clothing and the prisoners too had given two days of their own food rations to help the trapped villagers.
In another village nearby some residents said they feared for their lives.
SOUNDBITE: Unidentified resident saying (Romanian):
"I thought we wouldn't survive this, with all this snow around. Neighbours got us out of the house."
At least 86 people in Romania have been reported dead since the severe winter weather descended.
It's also closed four national roads and thousands of schools, and left many villages without power.
Paul Chapman, Reuters
They're working to clear schools, hospitals, and the homes of elderly people.
Entire houses are nearly engulfed by the drifts.
Grateful residents said the extra help was desperately needed.
SOUNDBITE: Ion, local resident, saying (Romanian):
"The snow is over the roof of the house. I can get near the house but the electricity panel is on the wall covered with snow. I'm afraid the snow could fall and smash the wall."
Police said they had donated food and clothing and the prisoners too had given two days of their own food rations to help the trapped villagers.
In another village nearby some residents said they feared for their lives.
SOUNDBITE: Unidentified resident saying (Romanian):
"I thought we wouldn't survive this, with all this snow around. Neighbours got us out of the house."
At least 86 people in Romania have been reported dead since the severe winter weather descended.
It's also closed four national roads and thousands of schools, and left many villages without power.
Paul Chapman, Reuters