site.btaBulgaria Warns Greece, Turkey of Rising Water Level of Two Rivers

Sofia, July 24 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has sent notes verbale to the Greek and Turkish authorities warning them of an expected dangerous rise of the water level of Arda and Maritsa rivers, the ministry said Tuesday.

The Greek authorities have been warned that the Ivaylovgrad dam might overflow due to expected heavy rains along Arda river in the coming days. The Ivaylovgrad hydroelectric plant has to switch to a 24-hour work regime, as a result of which the river's discharge after the dam will exceed 300 m3/s.

The Turkish authorities have been warned that the water level of Maritsa river in the Svilengrad area is currently below the flood warning threshold set by the Early Warning System, but on Wednesday and Thursday the level might cross the yellow and orange threshold and reach the red warning threshold.

The notes verbale read that the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry is in constant contact with the Environment and Water Ministry representatives and, if necessary, will inform the embassies of Greece and Turkey in Sofia.