Bulgaria: Over 191,000 Cars Leave Sofia as Easter Travel Rush Begins
The Easter holiday getaway has officially begun in Bulgaria, with traffic leaving Sofia surging as thousands of people set off for the long weekend
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Traffic between the towns of Petrich and Sandanski in southwestern Bulgaria is being detoured Wednesday morning over a bridge collapse. Photo by BGNES
A bridge over the Struma River in southwestern Bulgaria between the towns of Sandanski and Petrich, near the village of Ribnik, collapsed Wednesday morning.
The news was reported by the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, citing radio Blagoevgrad, and has been confirmed by the Interior Ministry.
The reason for the collapse is not attributed to the strong earthquake that hit western Bulgaria Tuesday morning nor to the aftershocks, but to torrential rains in the area and the overflowing river.
There was a car on the bridge at the time of the collapse and it fell into the waters. The driver, who has been the only person inside, has been rescued and is receiving psychological help.
The collapsed section is about 50 km long. Traffic is being detoured through Kulata-Marikostinovo and through "Mamin Kolio."
Holiday weather conditions are expected to remain mixed across Bulgaria, with alternating periods of sunshine and rain showers, according to the forecast
On Thursday, April 9, weather conditions across Bulgaria are expected to remain unsettled, with variable cloud cover that will often be significant
Meteorologists from the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences have issued a yellow code warning for strong and potentially hazardous winds across all of Bulgaria on Wednesday.
Atmospheric pressure is expected to decline and settle close to the typical levels for this time of year
On Monday, April 6, 2026, morning temperatures across the country will range between 4°C and 9°C, with around 5°C expected in Sofia
Atmospheric pressure across the country is on an upward trend and is expected to exceed the average levels typical for this time of year by the afternoon.
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