site.btaElectricity Is Shut Off in Flood-affected Areas to Prevent Power Surges

At present, in the areas, affected by floods along the Black Sea coast, we have shut down transformers only in places where there is a large volume of water, in order to avoid power surges, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov told a news briefing at the Council of Ministers on Friday in relation to the crisis situation along the Black Sea coast following torrential rains.

The high levels of rainfall, hundreds of liters per square meter, led to the flooding of one of the substations of the electricity system operator, the Minister said. Through well-coordinated efforts involving the director of the fire department in Burgas and the regional governor, it was promptly drained. An organization was put in place to ensure that, in case of a further increase in water levels, clients would be supplied with electricity via an alternative line, the Minister added.

He stated that once the drainage is complete, power supply will be restored. In areas where the water volume has been greater and infrastructure has been damaged, inspections will be carried out by the electricity system operator and the relevant electricity distribution company, after which restoration of power supply will begin.

One person has died in the resort village of Elenite, and efforts are underway to retrieve the body, following the torrential rains in the area, Deputy Interior Minister Toni Todorov announced earlier in the day at a briefing at the Council of Ministers.

The estimated amount of rainfall is between 200-250 liters per square meter, according to data from nearby hydrometeorological stations, said Environment Minister Manol Genov.