site.btaMountain Rescue Service Director: Our Budget Is BGN 1.168 Mln for 2023

In 2023, mountain rescuers helped 2,173 people, Mountain Rescue Service head Emil Neshev told journalists on Thursday. Of these, 1,969 cases were on the ski slopes.

In 2023, the budget of the Mountain Rescue Service is BGN 1.168 million, and for 2024 it will be BGN 2.6 million, added Neshev. According to him, in Romania, which is similar to Bulgaria, the mountain rescue service budget is EUR 20 million.

Neshev also said that the service has 22 rescue dogs. He said that currently ten drone pilots are undergoing training. The drones will be fitted with a thermal camera. The large ski centres are fitted with six defibrillators, added Neshev.

Talks are underway with a Swiss company for a helicopter, which will be available 24/7, said Bulgarian Red Cross President Hristo Grigorov.