The level of the River Danube in Bulgarian territory continues to rise, and almost all the Danube Islands are reported to be under water.

Thirty islands have been partially or fully inundated, according to the Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube. Worst affected is the island of Tsibar, which has been covered to a depth of 1,80 meters.

Near the city of Ruse, Lyulaka Island has been flooded, as well as long stretches of the riverbank in that locality. There is still no threat to urban parts of Ruse or the surrounding villages.

Despite the present amounts of water, the level of the Danube at Ruse is still far from the disastrous level of 9,16 meters recorded in April 2006.

The lower stretches of the river are also flooded, with riverbank municipalities having been warned to create monitoring groups to check for the critical depth of 777 cms may occur. In Silistra, the level is currently 625 cms, but islands in the area have also been covered by floodwaters.

Civil defence teams and irrigation system experts are out in force throughout the Bulgarian section of the Danube, inspecting drainage facilities and protective levees.

The town iof Lom almost reached a critical stage on Monday. The emergency level in the area is 800 cms, and earlier in the day the water level was measured at 797 cms.

The Mayor of Lom, who had set up a crisis headquarters on Sunday, announced that his teams were prepared for emergency action to protect the port and the urban areas. A 20-meter embankment would be built if the water levels reached 820 cms, according to the Mayor.

Meanwhile, in the northwestern town of Bregovo, it is probable that the flood defences will be deliberately torn down to allow the release of pent-up water back into the local River Timok.

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