Ten days after severe flooding hit Strumyani, cleanup and recovery efforts are continuing across the southwestern Bulgarian municipality, with homes, roads and public infrastructure still being cleared of mud, debris and fallen trees. Drinking water remains unavailable because of restrictions imposed by the Regional Health Inspectorate, but rail traffic through the area has now resumed.
Specialists from the National Railway Infrastructure Company restored the railway connection in about a week, allowing trains traveling between Kulata and Sofia to pass through Strumyani again. The damaged section, however, remains subject to major repairs.
“It was very serious and continues to be serious. We have to carry out a complete restoration of the railway track and the ballast prism,” said Gencho Mirkov, chief safety inspector at the National Railway Company. He explained that the ballast bed must be completely replaced because it has become mixed with rock material. The affected section stretches for about 1,400 meters, where trains will initially be limited to speeds of up to 15 km/h.
The crossing near the station has not yet been restored and will be guarded by an employee of the company, Mirkov said.
