site.btaAuthorities Declare Partial State of Disaster in Varna to Facilitate Fuel Oil Slick Clean-up

A crisis management centre Tuesday declared a partial state of disaster in Varna, on the Black Sea, to facilitate a clean-up of a fuel oil slick that washed up on the Varna shore on Monday. The crisis management centre was called by Regional Governor Andriana Andreeva with the participation of all competent institutions. 

The partial state of disaster will be for a period of seven days, said Andreeva. "During that time the clean-up of the fuel oil will continue and samples will be taken for tests," she said adding that the duration may be extended if necessary.

She would not say how much the clean-up would cost. The amount will be calculated once all work is done, and then funding will be sought from an interdepartmental commission for recovery and assistance with the government.

The head of the Maritime Administration, Valentin Enchev, said that they have examined six of nine vessels which are waiting to enter Varna Port and may be connected with the pollution. No violation of the rules have been established thus far.

On Tuesday morning, inspectors checked Galata beach and found tiny pellets of fuel oil there as well, he added.

The head of the Basin Directorate, Yavor Dimitrov, said that they have taken samples from the polluted stretch of sand for tests and the results are due in a couple of days. 

On Tuesday morning, the Basin Directorate received satellite images that show a dark slick some 16 km off shore and the slick needs to be examined to establish what it is.

Varna Deputy Mayor Ilia Koev said that the City Hall will help with the clean-up and the monitoring of the shore.

The head of the regional environment and water inspectorate, Erdzhan Sebaytin, said that the pollution is intentional and the polluter must face the strictest of penalty. He said that the problem undermines the image of Varna as a holiday destination just ahead of the holiday season. 

Sebaytin will take the matter to the prosecution service.