site.btaState of Emergency due to Torrential Rains Continues in Southern, Southwestern Bulgaria

December 13 (BTA) - A state of emergency continues in some municipalities in Southern Bulgaria and Southwestern Bulgaria due to torrential rains on Saturday and Sunday.

There are huge damages in settlements in Smolyan Region where rivers overflowed damaging and closing roads, activating landslides or disrupting power supply. The situation appeared worst in the municipality of Nedelino. The rain intensity there was measured at around 200 l/sq m.

Partial state of emergency was also declared in the municipality of Ardino (Kardzhali Region) where many landslides activated and caused damages, blocking the access to six settlements in the area. A bridge on the River Arda near the village of Kitnitsa was washed away as water levels rose significantly.

Torrential rains also flooded houses and damaged infrastructure in several settlements and villages in the municipalities of Blagoevgrad, Garmen and Simitli in Blagoevgrad Region.

There is no fresh water supply in several villages in the municipality of Garmen as the river Tuvcha damaged a main water pipe. Most of the houses and hotels in the resort village of Ognyanovo are damaged, some severely. Garmen Mayor Feim Isa requested government aid.

State of emergency was also declared in the municipality of Petrich in the southwest (Blagoevgrad Region), where the situation is critical, as well. The rain intensity there was measured at around 120 l/sq m, according to Petrich Mayor Dimitar Brachkov.