site.btaHeavy Rain Causes Some Disruptions

Sofia, July 3 (BTA) - The 112 emergency telephone service has received over 160 alerts about incidents caused by heavy rain since Sunday night, the Interior Ministry reported in the early afternoon on Monday. No people have been reported injured or in distress as a result of the rainstorms.

The alerts are about knocked-down trees, clogged drains, submerged streets, and flooded ground floors of residential and public buildings.

The situation in the northern municipality of Pleven is worst of all. The local authorities set up a regional rescue centre. The Nikolaevo Dam overflowed, closing the road between Pleven and Lovech to traffic.

The situation in Sofia Region is normal, the regional administration said. There has been no information about flooding or other emergencies caused by downpour in the region.

The National Electric Company (NEK) reported power outages in two villages in Sofia Region's Svoge Municipality and one in Elin Pelin Municipality. Teams were sent to repair the damage. Electricity supply was restored in three municipalities in Sofia Region after it was disrupted on the night between Sunday and Monday.

Reports and forecasts of continuing rainfall have led municipal governments to take additional precautions to prevent or minimize possible flood-induced damage. Acting on Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's order, Sofia Region Governor Ilian Todorov instructed the mayors of the region's 22 municipalities and the chiefs of civil protection offices and basin directorates to do necessary planning for response to potential floods. The Governor ordered that people should be informed and evacuated if necessary.

NEK said that at this point the large amount of precipitation forecast does not pose a hazard to the population and the environment in the areas of the dam complexes and significant dams managed by the company. The dam walls and their appurtenant facilities are in a good technical condition and fulfil their assigned purpose without limitations. The river sections downstream from the impoundments, for which NEK is responsible, have been cleaned and can conduct the water quantities released.

Dams across Bulgaria are under enhanced monitoring and none of those checked so far is in immediate danger of overflowing, the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision confirmed to BTA. The Agency is constantly monitoring the water level in 28 dams in the north of the country. All major dams have the capacity to take additional amounts of water if the downpour persists.