Varna Needs over BGN 30 M to Recover Infrastructure after Floods

The Bulgarian Black Sea city of Varna will have to spend more than BGN 30 M to restore infrastructure damaged by last week's flash floods, municipal officials say.

Some everyday items are also on demand, with the mayor of Varna's Asparuhovo district, which was most severely affected by the disaster, having made a request to receive 300 sets of furniture including a TV set, refrigerators and stoves, the Bulgarian National Radio reports.

Floods that struck north-central and northeast Bulgaria claimed 13 lives in Varna and one in the nearby town of Dobrich, but also destroyed tens of houses across the region.

Dozens of buildings, kilometers of roads and also dams were partially damaged or completely taken away by raging waters.

Torrential rains caused rivers to swell in Dobrich and Veliko Tarnovo, but also led tidal waves into districts of Varna due to poor drainage, as some houses were illegally placed inside gullies.

Some 120 buildings in Asparuhovo which are home to 1000 people are currently evacuated, website OffNews quoted Varna Mayor Ivan Portnih as explaining.