There are 535 areas at risk of flooding in Bulgaria, according to an analysis of the impact of the Rural Development Program on the environment published by the Agriculture Ministry.

Around half of the areas at risk of flooding are on the territory of the Black Sea Basin Directorate, where both the rivers and the sea pose threats.

Next is the Danube River Basin Directorate, followed by the East Aegean River Basin Directorate, and the West Aegean River Basin Directorate, the one with the smallest area and the lowest degree of risk.

The analysis, as cited by investor.bg, informs that a part of the existing hydromelioration facilities are in poor condition.

There are many micro-dams which have turned into wetlands and cannot be used for irrigation and fishing.

Others have been turned into fishponds and have been leased, but in some places the transformation was made without taking into consideration engineering and technical requirements.

According to experts, high waters may cause breakdowns.

The report also informs about the impact of global warming on waters.

The frequency of extreme weather phenomena has increased.

There has been a substantial increase of around 30% in the average number of days with rainfall totals of less than 100 mm per 24 hours from the period of 1991-2007 ad compared to the period of 1961-1990.

Torrential rains and hailstorms have also registered an increase.

Bulgaria's four basin directorates have also drawn up lists of the dangerous areas and maps to show their location.

The northwestern town of Mizia, which is still struggling to recover from the flooding in early August, has been identified as a region at risk of flooding due to the Ogosta River and Skat River.

Experts have warned that Varna's residential district of Asparuhovo, which also suffered serious flood damage, was at risk of flooding due to the Varna lake, without there posing a threat to the people.

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