Recovery efforts are continuing across Bulgaria after powerful storms swept through large parts of the country overnight, bringing torrential rain, hurricane-force winds, intense lightning, and large hail. Emergency services reported no injuries or stranded residents, but cleanup operations remain underway as authorities deal with widespread damage to infrastructure, roads, and public spaces.
Plovdiv was among the hardest-hit cities. Heavy rain, hail, and continuous lightning lasted for more than an hour, flooding major boulevards, toppling trees, and overwhelming drainage systems. The severe weather forced the postponement of the football match between Botev Plovdiv and Lokomotiv Sofia. Firefighters responded to dozens of calls involving vehicles trapped in floodwaters, while several people had to be rescued after falling branches landed on their cars. By early Tuesday, the fire department had received 422 emergency reports, with 78 handled overnight and the remainder scheduled for daylight operations because heavy machinery was required to remove large trees. More than 40 parked vehicles were damaged by fallen trunks and branches, while 35 trees blocked roadways. Three lightning-related fires were also reported, including one that struck the balcony of a residential building.
