Powerful thunderstorms, torrential rain, hurricane-force winds, and hail swept across much of eastern Bulgaria, leaving widespread damage as authorities continue to assess the impact. While the weather has begun to improve, emergency crews remain deployed to clear debris, drain flooded areas, and restore damaged infrastructure.
The Ministry of Interior said the 112 emergency hotline received more than 400 reports of storm-related incidents between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. About half of the calls came from the districts of Burgas, Sliven, Yambol, and Stara Zagora.
The hardest-hit municipality was Primorsko on the southern Black Sea coast, where hurricane-force winds tore the roof off a house and damaged balconies. No injuries were reported there. In Burgas Region, authorities recorded 65 reports of fallen trees, 19 blocked drains and manholes, and 10 flooded residential and public buildings caused by damage to the water supply network. The municipalities of Pomorie, Primorsko, Tsarevo, Burgas, and Nessebar were among the most affected.
Emergency crews in Primorsko have mobilized around 150 municipal workers to clear roads and streets. Mayor Ivan Gaikov said the municipality was able to cope with the damage despite the severity of the storm. He also renewed calls for state institutions to address overgrown vegetation along the Burgas-Primorsko road near the Ropotamo Reserve, saying the municipality has repeatedly warned about the issue but cannot carry out maintenance inside the protected area.
