site.btaOver Lv 2 Mln to Be Allocated for Flood-affected Settlements in Bourgas Region

Sofia/Bourgas, on the Black Sea, October 26 (BTA) - The Council of Ministers Interdepartmental Commission for Recovery and Assistance will allocate over two million leva to the flood-affected settlements in the region of Bourgas, the Regional Development and Public Works Ministry reported Thursday.

Torrential rains in the region on Tuesday and Wednesday caused floods in which three people died, while the search for a missing female continues.

Interior Minister Valentin Radev, Regional Development Minister Nikolai Nankov and Environment and Water Minister Neno Dimov inspected the most affected regions in the municipalities of Bourgas and Kameno on Wednesday.

Minister Nankov said that the damage assessment continues on Thursday regarding both public infrastructure and private properties, so that the funds can be directed towards those most severely affected by the natural disaster. A pre-trial proceeding against an unknown perpetrator has been initiated to investigate the deaths of the three casualties.

Financial aid will start to be paid out to households affected by the flood starting Friday. The State aid will amount to 325 leva per household, said in Bourgas Interior Minister Valentin Radev. He denied information about uncontrolled dam draining, which was circulated by the media.

All settlements in Bourgas Region have electricity and water as of Thursday. All citizens in distress have been rendered assistance, with some accommodated by relatives and others in town halls.

Ten of the 27 dams in Kameno Municipality will have to be removed because they are in a critical condition, said local Mayor Zhelyo Vardounski.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party insists to have four ministers heard on Friday in connection to dam management and the coordination between institutions. They are the ministers of Environment, of Economy, of the Interior and of Regional Development, Socialist MP Zhelyo Boychev told journalists in Parliament.

In the meantime, Bourgas Mayor Dimiter Nikolov said that the partial state of emergency in the Bourgas Municipality remains in force. He told journalists that the initial estimates put the damage at over 4 million leva.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev and Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov gathered to discuss the measures for overcoming the consequences of the disaster in Bourgas, the Government's press service said. The Council of Ministers will launch a procedure of extending 1 million leva to the municipalities of Bourgas and Kameno for emergency and restoration activities.

Environment and Water Minister Neno Dimov said the non-operational solid household waste depot in Bourgas as the worst problem given that it services nine municipalities. Efforts are also made to re-start the flooded waste water treatment plant in the Ezerovo Village, the Minister said before the MPs.

The Bulgarian Red Cross launched a national donation campaign in support of the victims of the floodings.

On Thursday, the European Commission offered condolences to the families of the victims of the floodings near Bourgas. A spokesperson for the Commission voiced readiness to provide assistance, if such is requested by the Bulgarian authorities.

* BTA's Brussels correspondent Nikolay Zheliazkov contributed to this story.