Hundreds of houses have been affected and many hectares of crops have been destroyed by torrential rains and hailstorms in Bulgaria's south.

Belozem, a village near Bulgaria's second-biggest city Plovdiv, has been left almost completely sumberged in water, private national NOVA TV channel says.

In the nearby region of Haskovo, to the east, the hail took by surprise residents who seldom see any rain falling.

In Plovdiv itself, many streets and boulevards were left under water for some time.

The nearby Tundzha, Arda and Maritsa rivers are swelling. Authorities are trying to prevent any incidents related to a potential overflowing of dams located in the immediate vicinity (Kardzhali, Studen Kladenets, and Ivaylovgrad).

Last year's floods and torrential rains caused the death of more than 13 people across Bulgaria and destroyed property worth hundreds of millions.