site.bta450 People Killed in 4,317 Road Traffic Accidents, January-August 2017

Sofia, August 31 (BTA) - A total of 450 people were killed and another 5,488 were injured in 4,317 road traffic accidents in Bulgaria between January 1 and August 31, 2017, Interior Minister Valentin Radev said at his Ministry's monthly news briefing here on Thursday. He noted that the death toll was 46 lower and the number of those injured was by 562 down from the same period of 2016.

Firefighters responded to 3,500 alerts in August alone, in which 25 people were injured and 8 were killed. For the eight-month period, the fire death toll stands at 95 and the non-fatal casualty count at 212.

The thefts and robberies recorded in August were by 1,000 fewer than last year. This type of offences account for 33 per cent of all committed in Bulgaria, the Interior Minister said.

During the January-August period, molestations and rapes increased by 20 per cent, year on year.

Radev said that cash allowances for uniforms have already been paid to 18,525 active Interior Ministry employees and 500 former ones. He recalled that this money was due but was not paid in the period between 2011 and early 2015. He said that the rest of the employees will get their allowances by the beginning of September.

He announced that 934 new police officers have been appointed, effective August 31, and another 70 will effectively start work until the end of the year.