Manslaughter Proceedings Opened over Flood Victim in NW Bulgaria

Pre-trial proceedings for manslaughter have been opened over the flood victim in the northwestern Bulgarian town of Mizia.

The flood claimed the life of one on Sunday, with one person still missing, after the Skat River overflowed, flooding the lower parts of the town, according to reports of the Bulgarian National Television.

Over 800 people were evacuated due to the floodwaters.

On Monday, the situation started returning to normal as the water level dropped by around 50cm overnight.

An inspection of the dams with the participation of investigative authorities has been launched.

The prosecuting authority will decide on the need to open more pre-trial proceedings over public official inaction after the completion of the probe and after the waters recede from the flooded areas.

Nearly 500 families affected by the floods in Mizia will receive one-off aid of BGN 325, according to an announcement of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.

In the village of Krushovitsa, a total of 150 families will receive one-off assistance, and in the village of Byala Slatina, 200 flood-stricken households will be awarded assistance.

Social workers are still working on the lists of families in need of aid.

Outgoing Labor Minister Hasan Ademov told journalists Monday that three social workers were working at a crisis HQ in Mizia, receiving aid applications at a local kindergarten where the evacuees had been accommodated.

He explained that they would be supported by social workers from Oryahovo and Kozloduy at a later stage to facilitate the allocation of aid.

Ademov informed that a total of 75 people had been hired under programs of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy to clean up the flooded areas in...