Bulgaria Buries Flood Victims

Society | February 9, 2012, Thursday // 11:36
Bulgaria Buries Flood Victims: Bulgaria Buries Flood Victims The busted wall of the Ivanovo dam submerged under water Monday the village of Biser, near the town of Harmanli. Photo by BGNES

The Bulgarian village of Biser is saying last goodbye and paying last respects to the four people who perished on February 6 when the nearby Ivanovo dam flooded it.

The cracked wall of the dam burst Monday in the aftermath of heavy snowfall, and Biser was submerged by a 3-meter high wave.

The wake for Ivanka Karamfilova, Georgi Sirakov, Hristo Hristov, and Angel Stoyanov, took place at 10 am at the village church while the funeral is scheduled for 12 pm at the local cemetery.

The expenses have been paid in full by the regional administration in the city of Haskovo, according to Regional Governor, Irena Uzunova.

Two people are still missing – a husband and wife. Despite rescue effort since Monday, they have not been located. Neighbors say they last heart them screaming for help.

There is no information about other people remaining in distress.

Many of the residents of Biser, who had been left homeless, have been accommodated in trailers.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, who has been in the area ever since the news about the flood broke, says the authorities had been able to provide other types of accommodation, but outside the village, and people preferred to stay there. Two more trailers will be delivered Thursday.

"We will have good results from the rebuilding of the village in several months. The current measures are just urgent and temporary," said he.

The residents are starting to receive Thursday the BGN 325 per household as first-step assistance to those whose homes have been destroyed. Money from donations will be spent under the monitoring of the public council of local residents, which was just established. Tsvetanov says those who have lost the most, will have priority.

It was reported meanwhile that nearby the "Ivaylovgrad" dam, also in southern Bulgaria, is overflowing with 500 cubic meters of water when 600 would be critical. Experts assuage fears, saying the waters are receding.

The Bulgarian cabinet declared Wednesday, February 8, an official day of mourning over the tragic deaths of Bulgarian citizens in floods in southeastern Bulgaria.

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Tags: Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, wake, funeral, trailers, Ivanovo, Dam, Cabinet, biser, victims, flood, day of mourning, Harmanli

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