Strumyani Municipality declares emergency after severe flooding

A state of emergency has been declared in the Strumyani Municipality following torrential rains and severe flooding in the Blagoevgrad region of Bulgaria. The heavy rainfall, which began late in the evening, caused the Shashka and Zlinska rivers to overflow, leading to significant damage to infrastructure.

Chief Commissioner Alexander Zhartov reported that water, electricity, and railway services have been interrupted. Access to several areas, including the village of Ilindentsi, is severely restricted due to fallen trees and large amounts of debris. Seven people have been evacuated, though there are currently no reports of fatalities or injuries.

Emergency response teams, including firefighters, volunteers, and military personnel, are working with heavy machinery to clear roads and restore essential services. Local officials noted that the severity of the flooding may be linked to the devastating wildfires in the Pirin region last summer. Damage to bridges and residential properties has also been reported.