Bulgaria: State of Emergency in Svilengrad, Sakar Mountain is Burning

The fight against the fire in Sakar Mountain continues for more than 30 hours. The flames cover a 15-kilometer front, BNR reports.

The municipality of Svilengrad declared a state of emergency due to the fire. By order of the regional administration, all activities in forest and agricultural areas are prohibited. About 6,000 decares of mixed forest are burning there, reports the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Employees of the state forestry holdings from Svilengrad, Topolovgrad, Tvarditsa, Sredets and Dolno Yablkovo are fighting the fire with 10 high-terrain fire engines. Teams from the General Directorate "Fire Safety and Protection of the Population" are also on site.

There is an assumption that the sparks started from the land of the village of Mladinovo after clearing a pasture.

The flames also covered dry grasses and bushes, with the total affected area being nearly 10,000 decares. Forestry and agricultural activities in the area are prohibited due to the ongoing fires, the ministry informed.

Nearly 200 forest employees are involved in extinguishing fires in Bulgaria during the last 24 hours. They joined the fight against the fire element in Svilengrad and Burgas. High temperature, strong gusts of wind and the flames unfolded on a 15-kilometer front near Mladinovo, Pastrogor and Momkovo on an area of 10 thousand acres. The fire probably started after clearing a pasture in the land of the village of Mladinovo.

"These are the assumptions - that a pasture in Mladinovo was cleaned and that's where the fire started. However, so far there is no such evidence," said Haskovo regional governor Ginka Raicheva.

The fire is still not under control. The fire is not growing in the north and west, but the situation is...