site.btaSituation along Tundza River Remains Difficult due to Torrential Rains

Situation along Tundza River
Remains Difficult
due to Torrential Rains


Sofia, December 5 (BTA) - The situation along the Tundzha River
in Southeastern Bulgaria remains difficult due to torrential
rains.

A red code alert remains in place in the town of Elhovo as there
is risk of flooding to low-lying areas, agricultural land and
sports facilities along the river, said the Environment
Ministry. Elhovo Mayor Peter Kirov said that more than a hundred
families are ready to be evacuated.

A state of emergency is into its second day in the
municipalities of Radnevo and Gulubovo because of torrential
rains and after the Ovcharitsa River burst its banks.
The entire town of Radnevo has no electricity with the exception
of the local hospital and several public buildings. Nearly all
houses in the low areas of Gulubovo have been flooded.

The mayors of five villages in Sliven Region are ready to
evacuate local residents should the waters of Zhrebchevo Dam be
released, the local authorities in Sliven said.

The Koprinka and Zhrebchevo Dams remain in critical condition.
"If rains continue, Zhrebchevo won't be able to contain all the
water," said Regional Minister Liliyana Pavlova.

The levels of Zhrebchevo are critical and because of this more
water has to be released from the dam, said Moustafa Moustafov,
head of the local Irrigation Systems office in Sliven. He said
that 150 cu m of water are released per second. The dam
currently holds 382 million cu m of water, while its maximum
capacity is 400 million cu m.

Trains between Gulubovo and Simeonovgrad were suspended at 15:35
hrs on Friday because of rains, the National Railway
Infrastructure Company said.

Some 14,000 households in Vidin Region have no electricity.
PK/PP




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