Turkish Citizens Threaten to Sue Bulgaria over Flood Damages

Eight people have died because of the floods in Edirne, and 5 000 more have been unable to leave their quarters. Helicopters are the only vehicles able to access the affected areas. As a result, several Turkish citizens have threatened to sue Bulgaria over the damages. 

The disaster has been caused by the overflowing of the rivers Tundzha and Maritsa on Bulgarian territories, as reported by BGNES.

Turkish Minister of Forest and Water Management Veysel Ero?lu stated at a press conference that the space left in Bulgarian water reservoirs is not enough to prevent possible overflowing. He added that Bulgaria has been warned about this issue several times.

Bulgarian climatologist doctor Georgi Rachev stated that a lawsuit against Bulgaria seems unlikely because Turkey has been warned in a timely manner. He added that climate changes are a regional problem, requiring joined efforts and plan of action.

The situation in Greece at the moment is also severe with a number of evacuated regions in the northern part of the country. Among the severely affected areas are Epirus, Arta and Ioannina.

''We have made several changes in the laws concerning water management in Bulgaria, in order to ensure that there is control over reservoirs and all other facilities,'' Environmental Minister Ivelina Vassileva said in an interview for bTV on Wednesday.'' I stand firmly behind my words that there is a climate change in the country.''

Meanwhile, Bulgarian opposition socialist party BSP has demanded the resignation of the minister on account of the damages caused by the recent floods.

A number of experts have expressed their views on the causes for the disaster.

Mathematician Prof Mihail Konstantinov said that the major problem in Bulgaria remains illegal tree cutting, reported the Bulgarian National Television (BNT). He added that people building their houses close to the river beds are inevitably running the risk of seeing them flooded.

Hydrobiologist Ivan Hristov, currently working for a WWF program, agreed with the statement that there is indeed a climate change, Novinite.bg reported. He stated that cleaning of the river beds is necessary, but is not the only solution and that a detailed analysis and plan for action need to be outlined.

Currently, five Bulgarian municipalities remain in state of emergency over the floods.

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