SARAJEVO - A powerful snowstorm has wreaked havoc across Bosnia and Herzegovina, leaving over 170,000 people without electricity and isolating entire communities.

The electricity distributor, Elektroprivreda BiH, reported that despite ongoing repair efforts, the number of affected customers continues to rise, with 127,000 currently without power. Elektrokrajina, serving the Serb entity, Republika Srpska, also announced that approximately 50,000 of its users are experiencing power outages.

In the western region, the municipality of Drvar has been effectively cut off from the outside world due to severe weather, impacting its 17,000 residents. A state of emergency has been declared as all entry and exit points are blocked by heavy snow.

"The situation is dire," stated Jasna Pecanac, the president of the Drvar Municipal Council. "Snowdrifts in some villages reach two meters high, and the blizzard is hindering all clearing efforts."

The Serbian Hydrometeorological Institute has issued a warning that heavy snowfall is expected to persist.

The western parts of the country have been hardest hit, with a red weather alert currently in effect. The mountainous terrain in this region has significantly impacted the electricity distribution network, leading to numerous power outages.

Emergency crews are working tirelessly to restore power and clear roads, but the ongoing blizzard poses a significant challenge to relief efforts.