Varna declares emergency after landslide destroys road in Asparuhovo

A major landslide in the Asparuhovo district of Varna, Bulgaria, has caused a road to collapse, creating a 3-meter deep trench approximately 60 meters long. Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev has declared a state of emergency for the ‘Vilite’ area, effective for seven days, due to risks to life, health, and property caused by soil saturation and ongoing ground movement.

Eight people from two families were preemptively evacuated to safety. Authorities have cut off electricity and water to the most affected properties to prevent further hazards, though electricity remains active for water pumps and street lighting to monitor the site.

A dispute has emerged regarding the cause of the landslide. Varna Water Utility (ViK-Varna) officials claim the landslide was triggered by excessive groundwater saturation from a nearby large-scale construction project that was not coordinated with the utility. They noted that the project, which involves high-rise residential buildings, may have compromised the retaining walls. Municipal officials are conducting soil analyses and geological surveys to determine if the collapse was caused by a water utility failure or the construction activities.