Fri, Feb 10 2012
After the hot weather, fires, and floods that hit Bulgaria, the country was attacked by flocks of crickets.
The insects destroyed everything in their way. The most seriously affected region is Bourgas where their density reached 15 to 20 of these insects per sq m, Monitor daily reported.
Large numbers of crickets have been reported in villages near the towns of Radomir, Stara Zagora, Sliven, Montana, Kurdjali, Haskovo and Plovdiv. The crickets attack sunflower fields, fruit gardens, and stubble-fields.
People from the affected settlements complained that the insects invaded their houses, crept under their blankets, and jumped on their faces.
Environmentalists said that the attacks resulted from hot and dry weather, and irregular anti-insects treatment of land in the affected areas.
If municipalities do not take urgent measures against the insects, crops would be seriously damaged, National Civil Protection Service representatives said.
Experts said they expected the rain that fell in recent days to help deal with the problem.
The discovery was made after some of the land in a complex near Bourgas was washed away by rough seas.
No trains could cross the Danube Bridge and passengers from international trains were being taken to the city of Rousse by road transport.
Hazardous weather warnings across the country on February 9, new record-low temperatures, and three people reported frozen to death in Pernik.
Opposition parties and environmental protection NGOs argued that this and other provisions were the result of lobbyist pressure from ski resort operators.
Ferry-boat service between the Bulgarian and Romanian banks of the river may continue if the ferry captains decide that the weather conditions allow the safe passage of the boats.