The situation in many regions in Bulgaria remained critical on February 16 2010 after torrential rains. Many areas are flooded, rivers have overflown and several dams are near-bursting.

Worsening the situation is the sudden warm front descending on Bulgaria which is rather atypical for the country this time of the year.

The forecast for Bulgaria is for a steep rise in temperatures over the course of the next few days, in places reaching 15C.

The melting snow will only worsen the situation in regions already underwater.

The Tundja River has long since overflown, and the region surrounding Elhovo is in a state of emergency. Most of the town, market area, bus station and other infrastructure is under water.

The Municipality of Smolyan is also in a "severe state of alert," Bulgarian National Television said on February 16.

The Kamchiya River burst its banks, flooding a fishing village and causing alarm in the Varna borough of Asparouchovo, where already parts of the borough are under water.

Dams in Bourgas have reached maximum capacity, while the Ticha, Yastrebevo and Byal Izvor dams are being discharged in order to avoid uncontrollable flooding. Turkish authorities have been warned since February 15 that they are to expect flooding around the Maritsa River and beyond.

Civil Protection units are busy nationwide, particularly in Haskovo, Yambol, Lyubimets, Svilengrad, Dimitrovgrad, around the Arda River and other regions affected by the rising waters.

According to the Bulgarian Meteorological Service, most of Bulgaria on February 16 will see neither rain nor snow. Scattered clouds and sunshine are to be expected, except for the mountains in southwest Bulgaria where in the afternoon, snow is expected.