site.btaInterior Minister Says Two Helicopters from Edirne Expected to Join Firefighting Effort

Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov said two helicopters and some fire engines and bulldozers were expected to arrive from Edirne in Turkiye to help the Bulgarian authorities put out a fire raging in the southeastern village of Voden. He said they would join the effort on a goodneighbourly basis.

Speaking from the village where firefighters and servicemen are fighting the fire, Stoyanov said the whole village had been evacuated and there were no casualties. He called the situation "grave", adding that houses had been damaged.

"The fire started on Tuesday. Regrettably, we could not contain it and it spread to the outlying houses as the wind changed direction," Stoyanov said.

The Ministry's Chief Secretary Dimitar Kangaldzhiev cited the municipal mayor as saying the village has 300-odd registered residents, but up to 200 are there on a daily basis.