FALLOUT from the summer-long floods still continues, with a state of emergency still in effect for Elin Pelin, Svoge, Sofia-district, Velingrad, Pazarjik, and Novi Iskar municipalities, the State Agency For Civil Protection (ACP) said on August 31.

The Government allocated 163 000 leva to Montana municipality to aid with the flood crisis. On August 23, more than 100 buildings in the city as well as several small villages were badly damaged by floods.

Officials from Montana Regional Inspectorate, a representative of the Education Ministry said on August 30 that 56 of all 108 school buildings were badly damaged by floods and needed urgent repairs as the new school year started on September 15. 

The Government has so far allocated four million leva to aid schools in all affected areas. 

 
Damages are still being evaluated. The Alexander Stambolijski dam reported a loss of 300 tons of fish on August 31 after tidal waves carried them away. The Topolnitsa dam in Pazarjik lost an estimated 100 tons of fish. 

The Tri Voditsi breeding complex in Plovdiv reported losses of 122 837 leva in breeding materials and 235 934 leva in damages to buildings and technical units.    

The State Agriculture Fund will help farmers affected by floods, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Nihat Kabil said on August 29. 

Farmers will receive help to buy mineral fertilizers and seeds for the autumn wheat sowing, the minister said. One million decares of harvest areas have been affected so far by flooding, of which 680 000 decares were completely destroyed. 

Losses amounted to 70 million leva, Kabil said.  

The Government has approved 4271 households to receive flood relief, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy said on August 30. So far 2848 households have received help, amounting to 1000 leva each. In total, 1.5 million leva have been allocated so far for basic necessities. 

Public campaigns are still raising funds for flood victims. The Bulgarian Red Cross has so far raised 1.449 million leva, and bTV’s joint campaign with MobilTel, Globul and BTC has so far raised 832 000 leva.