site.btaMizia Flooded by Swelling River, Two Found Dead

Sofia, August 3 (BTA) - The swelling Skut River inundated the Northern town of Mizia and the nearby Kroushovitsa in the night between Saturday and Sunday. Hundreds of buildings are flooded and tens of homes were destroyed, according to the local fire service. Two people have been found dead in their homes and some 10 are missing.

The head of the local fire and population protection service, Nikolai Nikolov, said people had been warned of the coming water but ignored the warning and refused to leave their homes.

Five hundred people were subsequently evacuated in Mizia and Kroushovitsa.

Nikolov said the rescuers are rearching the homes one by one. They are aware of people in distress but know where they are. Their worries are about elderly people who have difficulty moving and have no mobile phone.

Thy efforts of the rescuers are aided by two helicopters of the Defence Ministry which can reach the worst flooded areas, the Interior Ministry said.