Bulgaria PM Vows Financial Aid for Flood-Stricken Varna

Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski has expressed condolences to the victims of the deadly floods in Varna.

Heavy rain hit Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Varna on Thursday, causing the streets to be filled with muddy water. The severe flooding killed at least nine, including two children, but the death toll is expected to climb.

"While my ministers were working, the Mayor was giving interviews," Plamen Oresharski declared on Friday, stressing that Varna Mayor Ivan Portnih (nominated by center-right party GERB) had tried to use the situation for political advantage in a dishonorable manner.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister announced in an interview for bTV that the socialist-led government would provide financial aid for the flood-stricken area.

He did not specify the amount of the assistance, adding that the damage caused by the floods had to be estimated first.

Oresharski also emphasized that he had remained in touch with his colleagues to coordinate the rescue operations all through the night on Thursday.

Interior Minister Tsvetlin Yovchev declared that the authorities would do their best to disburse the aid as soon as possible.