A historic snowstorm has brought the Balkan region to a standstill, with record snowfall and widespread disruption. The storm, described by forecasters as the strongest in a decade, has dumped over two feet of snow across much of the area, with a record three feet recorded in some locations.
Thousands of flights have been cancelled, and hundreds of thousands of people are without power. Roads are slowly reopening, and mass transportation is being restored, but authorities warn that another major winter storm could be on the way.
In the capital city, a massive snowball fight erupted in a central park as the blizzard wound down, but the situation turned tense when police officers were pelted with snowballs. A viral video showed two officers being surrounded and hit, leading to them shoving some of the people involved. The police commissioner condemned the behaviour as 'disgraceful' and 'criminal'.
Meanwhile, the mayor has insisted on reopening schools on Tuesday, despite criticism from local officials and the teachers' union. The borough president argued that schools should remain closed, and the union president described the situation as 'a big mess', predicting low attendance due to travel difficulties. The schools chief expressed confidence in the decision to reopen.
