Danube Freezes at Rousse

Rousse, on the Danube, February 2 (BTA) - The Danube River has frozen at the port of Rousse, but there are some clear passages, the Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River said on Thursday.

The ice floe has stopped because the ice has clogged the river at Toutrakan, causing separate blocks of it to pile up all the way to Rousse and beyond, said Ivan Zhekov of the River Supervision Directorate in Rousse.

There are no ships in distress, Zhekov said. Vessels have gathered along the bank at Rousse. The situation is most serious at Popina, where there are 15 ships.

Since 1900, the Danube has frozen bank to bank 28 times.