site.btaOwners of Burnt Pastures in Sakar Will Be Compensated - Deputy Agriculture Minister Kapitanov

Owners of burnt pastures in the Sakar Mountains will be compensated, Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Kapitanov said on Wednesday during an inspection of the fire-affected areas - about 12,000 hectares in Southern Bulgaria in the municipalities of Harmanli and Topolovgrad.

Kapitanov said that the Agriculture Ministry is ready to instruct local authorities and livestock farmers on how to submit their applications for compensation after the fires are over. 

There is an order issued by the regional governor of Haskovo for a state of emergency, which the Ministry will take into account when supporting these livestock farmers, Kapitanov further said. He pointed out that there were no affected animals or major material damage to farms in the area, but mainly burnt pastures.

Damage to the forestry fund, as reported so far, is about 600 hectares, Kapitanov also told a briefing at the Golyamata Zvezda road junction near the fire outbreak. As the fire has not yet been finally eradicated, more specific data will be available once the outbreaks are established, the deputy minister clarified.

Earlier in the day, Mitko Chakalov, director of the Regional Directorate for Fire Safety and Population Protection in Haskovo, informed that fires in the Sakar Mountain were contained, but extinguishing of active outbreaks was continuing.