Bulgaria Ski discussion board

The heavy rain and snow in most of Bulgaria that started on the night of November 17-18 has created infrastructural problems throughout the Balkan region.

Hundreds of houses have been flooded and there has been serious traffic problems. Three mines stopped working and the ports in Varna and Bourgas have been closed.

At times dams were overflowing, the water level in all rivers in Pleven region was increasing and the Osum river has burst it's banks, with many homes flooded.

The Vit river was 50cm below the level at which it would overflow. Attempts were underway to keep the Iskur river from overflowing at its lowest section.

Eight settlements in the region of Plovdiv were left without water. The water supply in Kalofer was also cut off.

Dozens of streets in Plovdiv were flooded. Seven villages in the Vratsa region were left without electricity because of two broken power lines.

The water level of the Yantra river near Veliko Turnovo was also high although there was no immediate danger of flooding.

Although dams in the region of Pazardjik were full, there was no danger of embankment rupturing. Floods in the Dimitrovgrad, Mineralni Bani and Haskovo municipalities were not under immediate threat. For the past two days rainfalls in the region were almost two times above the usual monthly amounts.

The ground floors of over 30 houses in the city of Kurdjali were flooded out. Kurdjali dam was overflowing, three valves of the Studen Kladenets dam have been opened to relieve the pressure. Eleven settlements in the Krumovgrad municipality were left without electricity.

Everywhere in the region of Montana had substantial snowfall, but roads were accessible. The Petrohan passage was clear but it was recommended that all automobiles should travel with snow-chains on, and all trucks and lorries should travel without trailers or semi-trailers.

The road to the village of Sinemorets was difficult to pass because of the heavy rain that poured down in the region. The sand thrown out by the sea blocked the mouth of Veleka river which in turn flooded the road with sea water. However, there were no closed roads in the region.

The heavy rain flooded the three Mini Maritsa Iztok mines. Coal supplying for Maritsa Iztok 2 Thermo-Electric Power Plant, Maritsa Iztok Enel Thermo-Electric Power Plant and Brikel was cut off. A state of emergency was introduced in the complex area.

Gulubovo's mayor Nikolai Tonev also announced a state of emergency. Over 70 houses in different villages had been flooded. All dammed lakes in the nearby municipality of Opan were completely filled with water and could overflow at any time. The situation in the village of Musachevo was the most worrying, with floods expected at any time.

So all-in-all the weather in Bulgaria has been exceptional. Lets all hope this all turns to snow soon and gives us all the best Xmas present ever!

However my heart goes out to al those families in Bulgaria who must be going through hell at the moment.

PP