State of emergency declared across Strumyani municipality after flash floods from the Shashka and Zlinska mountain rivers, accompanied by flooding in Satovcha, Sofia, and Peshtera.
A state of emergency has been declared across the territory of Strumyani municipality following two flash floods on the Shashka and Zlinska mountain rivers, according to BNR. The severe weather has triggered evacuations, power and communication outages, and extensive infrastructure damage across multiple regions of the country, while emergency teams work through ongoing rescue operations.
According to BNR, authorities have not received any information regarding fatalities or stranded residents in Strumyani, though the situation necessitated the evacuation of seven people. All communications within the municipal center remain cut off, and the severe storm has caused severe damage to the local area.
Infrastructure Damage and Rescue Operations in Strumyani
“There is a lack of water supply, electricity supply, and the railway line is cut off.” Municipal authorities and emergency responders, including volunteers and military personnel with heavy equipment, continue clearing debris and working to restore normal conditions.
Strumyani Mayor Emil Iliev noted that firefighters had previously been battling a wildfire in the land of the village of Drakata, municipality of Strumyani, before the torrential rain struck, adding that the water disaster resulted from the destructive fires in Pirin last summer.
Did You Know? The severe water disaster in Strumyani followed destructive wildfires that burned in the Pirin region during the previous summer, according to statements from local municipal leadership.
Flooding and Evacuations in Satovcha and Sofia
Earlier, a partial state of emergency was declared in Satovcha municipality following torrential afternoon rains, with Kochan village sustaining the heaviest impact. According to the reporting, heavy rain turned the village streets into rivers in about an hour and a half, flooding numerous houses, damaging ground floors and household belongings, and causing severe agricultural losses.
In the capital, the Emergency Assistance and Prevention Directorate of Sofia Municipality received over 100 signals following the storm. Maria Teneva, director of the directorate, explained the nature of the urban incidents to reporters.
“We do not have partially flooded streets, there were clogged manholes as a result of the fallen leaf mass,” Maria Teneva said. “The moment they were cleaned of the leaf mass, the water was absorbed. There were minor problems with the traffic lights. Their emergency teams were notified, came, fixed them, everything is functioning and working right now.”
Ongoing Search Operation in Peshtera
In Peshtera, a 58-year-old man remains missing following torrential rain and flooding after he attempted to rescue his wife and child from a sudden rise in the Stara Reka river level. Dozens of people, including volunteers equipped with dogs and a drone, are searching the riverbed and difficult-to-reach downstream areas, though the operation has yielded no results so far.
“Their house is located near the river and when the tidal wave came, he went to save his son and wife and the river carried him away,” Galabina Karamitreva, deputy mayor of Peshtera municipality, explained to BNT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where has a state of emergency been declared?
A state of emergency was declared in Strumyani municipality following flash floods, while a partial state of emergency was declared earlier in Satovcha municipality after heavy downpours.
What caused the emergency situation in Strumyani?
The emergency follows two flash floods on the Shashka and Zlinska mountain rivers, which destroyed bridges, disrupted utilities, and cut off communications and the railway line.
What is the status of the missing person search in Peshtera?
A 58-year-old man is missing after attempting to rescue his family from rising river waters, and search teams utilizing dogs, drones, and volunteers continue checking the riverbed without result.
How did the storm impact Sofia?
Sofia received over 100 signals related to clogged manholes from fallen leaves and minor traffic light issues, all of which were addressed by emergency teams.
What are emergency teams doing in the affected municipalities?
Teams comprising firefighters, military personnel, and volunteers are using heavy machinery to clear debris, remove deposited sediment, and restore water, electricity, and transport links.
How are local municipalities responding to the infrastructure failures and ongoing risks?
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