site.btaMeeting Discusses Creation of National Task Force for Response during Disasters

Sofia, March 9 (BTA) - Bulgaria needs a national task force to monitor, respond and manage natural disasters and other critical situations, to identify potential threats in real time and undertake prompt measure for the protection of the people, it emerged after a meeting in the office of President Rumen Radev Friday. The meeting was attended by Chief of Defence Lt.-Gen. Andrei Botsev, head of the Directorate General for Fire Safety and Civil Protection Chief Commissioner Nikolai Nikolov, Peter Gornovski, Chairman of the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision (SAMTS), and Kiril Voinov, head of the SAMTS directorate in charge of monitoring dam walls and facilities.

The meeting was called in response to the state of disaster declared in the Hairedin Municipality, Vratsa Region (Northwestern Bulgaria), and the threat for flooding elsewhere in the country.

In a related develment, an extraordinary meeting of the ministers responsible for the condition of the dams in Bulgariawas held late on Thursday. Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov and Nikolov said after the meeting that there is no risk of flooding and the situation in the country is under control.

One exception is Hairedin Municipality, where there is a problem with two dams, Karakachanov said. To avoid the risk for the people, the occupants of 15 houses in the Burzina and Botevo villages have been accommodated with relatives after an emergency situation was declared.

Chief of Defence Botsev has ordered 16 units with boats to be on standby. Helicopters are also on standby, but that is not necessary at the moment, Karakachanov said.

Nikolov said they are monitoring the Ticha Dam which is currently overflowing but is not causing problems.

"Rivers across the country have swelled, particularly in Northern Bulgaria. Thankfully, the meteorologists of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences do not forecast dangerous weather in the coming days. Nor are river levels expected to rise dramatically. Nevertheless, instructions have been given to monitor critical sections and issue early warnings to people at risk," Nikolov said.