Balkans Battered by Storms, Climate Change Warning

0:00Stormy winds, heavy rain, and snow-battered Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia this week, shutting down schools and leaving thousands without power. Road's turn into obstacles with fallen trees and drifts, snarling traffic across the region. In northern and northwestern Slovenia, gusts topped 141 km per hour, or 87 mph. Emergency crews cleared debris through the night, while more than 15,000 households stayed in the dark. Snow-blanketed even lower southern spots. Meanwhile, Croatia's capital Zagreb faced brutal winds up to 120 km per hour, or 74 mph, uprooting trees, wrecking tram lines, and ripping off roofs. Primary and secondary schools closed Friday, and northwest roads saw spiking crashes from slick conditions. Northwestern Bosnia closed roads to heavy trucks amid deep snow, with power glitches and class suspensions until conditions lift. Local teams tackled outages and blockages head on.

1:01As cleanup continues and weather calms, experts point to climate change fueling these intense storms, urging better preparedness in the Balkans. You've been listening to Canada News today, AI-powered local news.