site.btaOperational Situation in Bulgaria Relatively Calm as Country Prepares for New Heavy Rainfall

The operational situation is relatively calm, with teams of the Fire Safety and Civil Protection Directorate General currently responding to 30 alerts, Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov told journalists here on Monday. Eight of the alerts are for fallen trees. Work continues on removing debris from the October 3 flooding in the Elenite holiday village on the Black Sea coast, which claimed four victims.

The teams have been reinforced, the equipment is in good working order, and patrolling will be stepped up in areas with a red code warning, he added, referring to the expected heavy rainfall.

Environment and Water Minister Manol Genov said on Bulgarian National Television that most of what used to be a river bed in the Elenite resort on the Black Sea has been built-up. The Minister said that it is prohibited to build on public state property, which all rivers are, and the question is how this has happened. He argued that many institutions coordinate these constructions. “So far, our checks in the register of the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water have revealed only one construction approval, dating back to around 2006, for a wastewater treatment plant,” Genov added. 

Тhe University Center for Geospatial Research and Technologies at St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia has published a map on Facebook showing that a river runs through Elenite, with a residential complex built in the middle of its course. In the water management information system of Genov’s Ministry, the river appears on the map under the name Drashtela River, with the identification number BG2SE500R012. It is also listed on the website of Nessebar Municipality under the Environment Management section, where it is noted that the river flows into the Black Sea near the resort village of Elenite.

Genov stressed that building on dry channels is unacceptable, adding that he does not know the owners of the structures there and has not checked the commercial register. According to him, the institutions have failed to do their job. “Nature has retaliated for greed and irresponsibility,” Genov said.

Burgas Regional Governor Vladimir Krumov activated the BG-Alert early warning system for the Elenite holiday village on Monday morning. The measure is being taken as a precaution in connection with the expected heavy rainfall and in order to ensure the safety of everyone in the area.

The Regional Administration said that access to the Elenite holiday village will be restricted in the coming days after torrential rain severely damaged infrastructure in the area and led to high soil saturation. The holiday village will remain under 24-hour police guard to prevent any trespassing or looting of property.

Tsarevo Municipality instructed its residents in high-risk flood areas to leave their homes until October 9 as new deterioration of weather conditions is expected in the coming days. For people who are unable to find accommodation on their own, the municipality is offering assistance by providing temporary shelter. The Municipality warned that if the situation worsens further, Tuesday will be declared a non-school day for all schools and kindergartens in the region.

The Road Infrastructure Agency has taken urgent measures to secure and repair the bridge over the Izgrevska River on the road linking Tsarevo and Malko Tarnovo, which was damaged during the flooding of October 3. Access to the bridge has been restricted to ensure the safety of travelers, the Agency said. All activities will be carried out as quickly as possible in order to restore normal traffic and access for residents of the affected area.

Sozopol Municipality said that emergency teams and volunteers in Sozopol are on full alert in connection with the expected heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday. The mayors of the settlements have been informed again about the necessary preventive measures to protect the population during the expected heavy rainfall.

Heavy rains are expected in Ruse Region until the end of the week. Regional Governor Dragomir Draganov explained that the most intense rainfall is forecast for October 7 and 8, with the total amount of rainfall until October 9 expected to reach between 80 and 110 l/sq. m. This could lead to local flooding, given that the soil is already saturated from previous rainfall. There is also a risk of landslides.

Telecom operator Vivacom said that it will compensate individual customers whose services were disrupted due to the state of emergency in some of the areas most severely affected by the October 3 floods — including Tsarevo, Trun, Nessebar, Georgi Damyanovo, Berkovitsa, Varshets, Chuprene, Breznik, Zemen, and Ardino.