Bulgaria IntMin Proposes Fines for Municipalities over Floods

Caretaker Interior Minister Yordan Bakalov said Monday sanctions could be imposed on municipalities failing to carry out prevention activities against floods and other disasters.

In an interview with the Bulgarian National Television, Bakalov explained he had sent a letter to municipalities last week to urge them to clean riverbeds and sewage infrastructure.

He pointed many administrations across Bulgaria had not taken any measures to prevent floods similar to those of the past months, despite a number of incidents following torrential rains this summer.

Many experts suggested after June and July's heavy downpours and flash floods poor drainage was among the main reasons for both the damage and the death toll.

Bakalov added he had ordered inspectors from his ministry to conduct regular checkups and issue recommendations to municipalities facing the toughest challenges.

"We cannot fight nature, but we can take measures so that there is less damage," he explained.

An inquiry is being prepared now to find out how much has been set aside for disaster compensations in the past ten years, with the sum likely to surpass BGN 1 B and at the same time no real preventive measures in sight.

A number of cities, towns and villages across Bulgaria have been left inundated over the past days, with the disaster having claimed three lives in the Black Sea city of Burgas.