site.btaAuthorities Establish "Significant Flaws" in Construction in Flood-Hit Elenite Resort

The authorities have established significant flaws in construction projects in the Elenite resort that was devastated by a deadly flood on October 3. "An inspection at the Elenite holiday village has established significant flaws," Regional Development Minister Ivan Ivanov told a special news conference he held to report the findings. 

The disaster was triggered by torrential rainfall, which caused a normally dry channel running through the resort to overflow, flooding hotels and homes, destroying infrastructure, and claiming four lives.

According to Minister Ivanov, two major developments in the resort—the Negresco Hotel and an aquapark—lack any available construction documentation.

The hotel was built directly in the riverbed, requiring the river to be diverted into a tunnel beneath the building.

Officials continue to review the resort's construction records, while law enforcement has restricted all access in and out of the area.

Construction oversight authorities have confirmed that all planning and permitting for the developments in the riverbed were carried out between 1997 and 2008. “This was under the authority of the local municipal administration,” said Ivanov. Building permits were issued by Nessebar Municipality based on detailed plans created during that period.

“I have a reasonable question: Why were these detailed plans not coordinated with the Basin Directorate of the Environment Ministry?” the Minister asked.

He stated that all findings will be submitted to the investigative authorities currently conducting on-site inspections. “If they choose, they can initiate procedures to invalidate the building permits and commissioning certificates in Elenite, potentially classifying the buildings as illegal constructions,” Ivanov said.

The Minister has also instructed the Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre Agency, along with the State Construction Supervision Authority, to request data from the Black Sea Basin Directorate about other rivers and dry channels in tourist resorts, to check for unauthorized developments.

According to the Minister, the flood has not affected public infrastructure in Elenite. In another flood-hit town further south, Tsarevo, a waste water treatment plant has suffered damage in the flood and so did local roads. 

Bulgaria is seeking aid from the EU Solidarity Fund to relieve the aftermath from the floods.