Bulgaria to Seek EU Solidarity Fund Aid for Flood-Stricken Mizia

View of flood ravaged northwestern Bulgarian town of Mizia. Photo by BGNES.

Bulgaria will seek help from the European Solidarity Fund in overcoming the consequences of the disastrous floods which hit northwestern Bulgarian town of Mizia, Saturday night.

The damage evaluation will start on Monday, Nikolay Nikolov, head of the Chief Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection told Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).

The estimated damages from the previous floods in the country run up to approximately BGN 500M. According to Nikolov, the sum will increase significantly after the evaluation of the damages in Mizia and the region.

A member state could apply for EU funding if total damages caused by natural disasters exceed 0.6% of its economic output, a condition which is likely to be fulfilled if projections are confirmed.

On Sunday, Kristalina Georgieva, the outgoing European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response noted that the European Commission is in contact with the Bulgarian authorities and is ready to provide assistance if needed, BNR reports.

Meanwhile, the floods have claimed the life of one person (and another has been reported missing) and have caused more than 80 houses to collapse in Mizia, Nova TV informed.

Former MEP Ivaylo Kalfin has told Darik Radio that funding under the solidarity mechanism is not likely to be allocated in less than six months.

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