site.btaSituation in Krumovgrad Area Improves but Remains Complicated after Heavy Rainfall

Following the heavy rainfall in Krumovgrad and the partial state of disaster declared Wednesday night, the situation is improving but remains complicated due to the damage caused, Regional Governor Nikola Chanev told BTA. He added that a red code warning for dangerous rainfall issued for Thursday for the municipalities of Krumovgrad and Kirkovo has been downgraded to orange.

Since Wednesday, river levels have been receding. The Krumovitsa River, which in some places had overflowed its banks and threatened to flood the bridge in Krumovgrad that crosses the town and leads to the hospital, emergency medical services, and the fire brigade, is now within normal limits.

The Druzhba neighborhood in Krumovgrad is without electricity due to a flooded transformer substation. The entire town is also without water because pumping stations have been flooded.

Four families from Zornitsa remain cut off due to a collapsed bridge. A 500-meter section of the road connecting the village of Buk with the Lazhichnik has been washed away. As a preventive measure, a family from the village of Slivarka has been evacuated because of an activated landslide threatening their home.

Due to the heavy rainfall yesterday, the BG-ALERT system was activated for residents of the two most affected municipalities in Kardzhali Region -Krumovgrad and Kirkovo. Recorded rainfall there exceeded 130 liters per square meter.

The regional governor also said that the rainfall has caused damage in other municipalities in the region. The concrete bridge leading to the village of Kitnitsa in Ardino Municipality has been flooded again, leaving five settlements cut off. Over the past 24 hours, reports were received of fallen trees and flooded roads, including a section of the main road to Greece, in close proximity to the former border checkpoint, which had been cleared promptly.