Mayor Dimitar Ivanov warns of flood‑induced collapse risk for Struma River bridge

Mayor Dimitar Ivanov of Maritsa Municipality has warned that the 80‑year‑old bridge over the Struma River at the entrance to Manole is at risk of collapse if flooding occurs. He said the riverbed is overgrown with trees and that “Речното корито е обрасло с дървета и в най‑скоро време Маноле, Манолско Конаре и Ясно поле ще останат без мост” (the riverbed is overgrown with trees and soon Manole, Manol Ko Nare and Yavno Pole will be left without a bridge). The bridge’s failure would cut off more than 6,000 residents and force traffic onto a 30‑kilometre detour via Shishmantsi and the Trakia highway.

Ivanov recalled the severe September 2022 flood, when volunteers, heavy equipment and coordination among agencies averted a larger disaster. A temporary bypass was built with the help of President Rumen Radev, preventing water from overtopping the bridge. He warned that a new wave could also threaten the nearby villages of Kalekovets, Trilistnik, Skutare and Rogoš, increasing the flood‑risk area.

The mayor stressed that regular inspections have been carried out over the past decade with regional administration, irrigation systems, basin directorate and fire safety authorities, but urgent preventive measures are still needed to avoid a repeat of the 2022 catastrophe.