US embassy cable - 05SOFIA1404

UNCLAS SOFIA 001404 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID, PREL, ASEC, BU, Floods 
SUBJECT:  ANOTHER WAVE OF HEAVY RAINS WREAKS HAVOC, LEAVES 
FIVE PEOPLE DEAD 
 
Ref: (A) SOFIA 1224; (B) SOFIA 1272; (C) SOFIA 1398 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  The Bulgarian government has declared a state 
of emergency in 23 municipalities as another wave of heavy 
rains hit the country over the weekend.  The disaster left 
five people dead and blocked major motorways and railways 
with mud and debris.  The number of buildings, homes and 
bridges destroyed by flood waters continues to climb, and 
numerous power outages have been reported.  The government 
reports that the cost of the damage has reached over 500 
million Bulgarian leva (USD 313 million).  Some of the USD 
450,000 in USAID disaster relief funds have been 
reprogrammed to meet the evolving needs of the affected 
populations. END SUMMARY. 
 
CATASTROPHIC RAINS FORCE RIVERS OVER THEIR BANKS 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
2.  Another wave of severe rains over the weekend swelled 
rivers that were already running high, flooding hundreds of 
houses and forcing the evacuation of over 10,000 people. 
Near Plovdiv, the Maritsa River burst its banks for the 
first time in 25 years, flooding parts of the city and 
surrounding villages.  Unlike the previous rounds of 
flooding this summer (reftel) much of the damage this time 
was to towns and villages just north and east of Sofia.  The 
weekend downpour obstructed major highways and railways, 
making it difficult for rescuers to access some 
neighborhoods.  Most train and bus services to and from 
Sofia were cancelled as a result of flooded roads and 
damaged railroad tracks.  Buses that were already en route 
had to make long and sometimes dangerous detours in order to 
reach their destinations.  The police advised people to 
avoid travel due to the danger of landslides. 
 
3.  Although the Bulgarian Railways Company has resumed some 
services, the weekend rains paralyzed most of the railroad 
system.  Landslides have blocked the railway at three main 
locations, and it will take at least one week to repair the 
damage.  The outgoing Minister of Transport and 
Communications, Nikolai Vasilev, said that millions of 
Bulgarian leva will be needed to repair railroad 
infrastructure. 
 
GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY PLAN PUT TO THE TEST 
----------------------------------------- 
4.  The recent flooding put Bulgaria's new emergency plan to 
the test.  The Director of the Fire Brigade, General Kiril 
Voinov, said that this was the first time the emergency 
agencies responded under the Crisis Management Act that was 
adopted in March.  On August 6, the government activated the 
state's emergency plans, deploying crisis response teams to 
the municipal and regional emergency commissions and 
preparing emergency units of the Civil Protection Agency, 
the Military, the Police and the Ministry of Transport. 
Municipal authorities, however, have criticized the 
emergency legislation, claiming that it does not correspond 
to the situation in Bulgaria.  The emergency law requires 
local municipal crisis teams to handle emergency situations, 
but municipalities don't have enough funds for this, 
according to mayors of the worst hit municipalities. 
 
5.  As emergency teams struggle to clean up damaged areas, 
local authorities are working with humanitarian 
organizations to evacuate survivors trapped in flooded 
neighborhoods and bring them shelter and hot meals.  The 
Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC) has provided immediate relief aid 
(blankets and clothes) to the victims of the flooding, who 
were evacuated and accommodated in schools and other public 
buildings.  BRC has made the necessary arrangements for the 
provision of food.  CARE-Bulgaria is using USAID funds to 
provide food and water for 5,000 people who were forced to 
evacuate.  CARE will also use USAID funds in the recovery 
phase procuring pumps, disinfectants, and other remediation 
materials. 
 
6.  COMMENT:  After this weekend's heavy rains forced rivers 
over their banks, emergency teams are now monitoring 
national infrastructure facilities such as dams and 
reservoirs in order to minimize risks.  Health experts note 
the danger of epidemics due to the decomposition of many 
farm animals and the lack of drinkable water.  In a positive 
development, improved weather conditions have allowed rescue 
teams, with the assistance of humanitarian organizations, to 
haul food and other supplies to thousands of people who are 
now homeless.  END COMMENT 
LEVINE