Azernews.Az

Cold weather hit Azerbaijan on Thursday, with heavy snowfall and blizzards in the capital Baku blocking traffic in some parts of the city and complicating travel for pedestrians.

Classes in schools have been cancelled until February 6 due to freezing temperatures and snow storms, according to Education Minister Misir Mardanov’s order.

Over 50 people were reported injured in Baku on Thursday after slipping and falling on icy roads, and one person was rushed to an emergency care hospital over freezing, according to the Health Ministry.

Blackouts hit a number of districts of the capital as a result of a blizzard, and power supply remains cut off in most of the settlements outside Baku.

44 road accidents caused by snowfall were reported in Baku since Wednesday evening, said Vagif Asadov, a department head at the city’s traffic police department.

According to Transport Ministry spokesman Namig Hasanov, about 720 passenger buses began to work in Baku early on Thursday, but 300 of them had to be diverted back later in the day after getting stuck on the roads.

"The ministry’s traffic department is doing everything it can to clear the roads, but road machinery is unable to operate on slopes due to thick ice," Hasanov said.

A number of flights at the Baku airport have been canceled.