The floods that struck across Bulgaria, in particular the north east along the Black Sea coast, killed at least 12 people. One person still remains missing. The Black Sea coastal area around Varna is an important tourist destination and vital to the regions economy. The floods and damage the will have a large economic impact.
Worse still, agriculture minister Dimitar Grekov said that the flooding has ruined 25% of the expected wheat crop, as well as causing damage to fruit and vegetable crops. As many as 25,000 hectares of wheat fileds have been destroyed. Agriculture are Dobrich and the Dobrudhza area generally is said to be one of the worst affected. Other reports say that agriculture in the Rousse area has also been badly hit.
Bulgaria’s Transport Infrastructure Agency estimated that the recent floods caused around $10 million of damage to roads in north eastern Bulgaria.
Just a few days ago it was announced that damages caused by the flooding that struck in May in another Balkan State – Bosnia Herzogovina – will cost up to $2.7 billion, making it likely that Bosnia will need some form of international aid. Sadly after the severe damage to the tourism and agricultural sectors in Bulgaria, it seems likely that Bulgaria may need to follow a similar route.
ECHO European Union Map of the Flood Affected Areas in Bulgaria
