SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — A severe snowstorm sweeping through the Balkans has led to significant disruptions, including traffic jams, school closures, and widespread power outages affecting thousands of homes in Croatia and Bosnia. The inclement weather conditions also complicated rescue operations in Slovenia, where two hikers from Hungary became stranded in the Alps.

Reports indicate that the hikers, a man and a woman, lost their way due to harsh weather conditions in the mountains located north of Ljubljana. It has been reported that one of them has sustained a broken leg. A rescue operation that was temporarily halted overnight due to high winds and the danger of avalanches resumed on Monday; however, adverse weather conditions prevented helicopters from launching to reach the hikers, who were situated at an elevation of 1,700 meters (5,600 feet), according to information from officials and the media.

By mid-afternoon, rescuers managed to reach the woman, but they struggled to locate the injured man immediately, as noted by Jernej Lanišek, the head of the rescue team. Meanwhile, in Bosnia, a woman from Turkey and her daughter encountered trouble when their car became stuck in snow on Prenj mountain in the southern region, requiring assistance from a mountain rescue team to get them out.

In Croatia, authorities implemented a ban on traffic across most roads in the central Lika region, alongside certain sections of major motorways. Additionally, storms along the Adriatic Sea coastline led to the cancellation of ferry services to islands and impeded road traffic toward central zones. Regional reports indicated that all bus services from the coastal town of Split to the capital, Zagreb, were also suspended.

Both Croatian and Bosnian officials advised residents to refrain from unnecessary travel. In Bosnia, the government announced the suspension of classes in schools located in the northwest region in response to heavy snowfall. Approximately 200,000 households were reported to be experiencing power outages, and heavy vehicles were prohibited from many roads.

Meteorologists have projected that the snowstorm is expected to advance towards Serbia, where warnings have been issued for residents in the western areas to avoid travel and be prepared for potential power interruptions.