The Bulgarian government has extended a “code red” warning – the highest level – until Tuesday as mass fires blaze across the country following a week-long heatwave.
The military and two air force helicopters were deployed to assist in fighting the fires, the defense ministry said on July 13.
The strongest fires were in the central and southeastern parts of the country. In total, 21 of 28 regions have received a “code red” warning.
In the past 24 hours, the firefighters have dealt with over 200 reports of blazes nationwide, and more than 400 personnel and 135 fire engines have been deployed in recent days. So far, no casualties have been reported.
The director of the Fire Safety and Population Protection department, a specialized structure of the ministry of interior, told the state-owned Bulgarian News Agency: “The situation is gradually normalizing… Regardless of everything at this stage, we are rather optimistic, considering that we have been working all night.”
Fires in the central province of Plovdiv destroyed about 20,000 acres of mainly coniferous forests. They are still blazing in the town of Hisarya, which is located at the foothills of the central Sredna Gora mountain range.
Osogovo, another mountain range on the border with North Macedonia, is also still on fire.
Meteorologists warn that the weather will become hotter, with temperatures of 43-44 degrees Celsius expected in some places between July 16 and 18. Firefighters have issued an appeal for people to not light fires in the open air or throw cigarette butts out of car windows.
The strongest fires were in the central and southeastern parts of the country. In total, 21 of 28 regions have received a “code red” warning.
In the past 24 hours, the firefighters have dealt with over 200 reports of blazes nationwide, and more than 400 personnel and 135 fire engines have been deployed in recent days. So far, no casualties have been reported.
The director of the Fire Safety and Population Protection department, a specialized structure of the ministry of interior, told the state-owned Bulgarian News Agency: “The situation is gradually normalizing… Regardless of everything at this stage, we are rather optimistic, considering that we have been working all night.”
Fires in the central province of Plovdiv destroyed about 20,000 acres of mainly coniferous forests. They are still blazing in the town of Hisarya, which is located at the foothills of the central Sredna Gora mountain range.
Osogovo, another mountain range on the border with North Macedonia, is also still on fire.
Meteorologists warn that the weather will become hotter, with temperatures of 43-44 degrees Celsius expected in some places between July 16 and 18. Firefighters have issued an appeal for people to not light fires in the open air or throw cigarette butts out of car windows.
Source: Bulgarian News Agency, Novinite, rmf24
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