Authorities in Yambol are convening an emergency meeting after a serious incident in which a 3-year-old boy was found hanging from the outside of a balcony on the eighth floor of a residential building. The child was rescued by police, while his 1-year-old sister was discovered inside the apartment. Both children had been left alone, and their parents were later detained for up to 24 hours. A session of the Coordination Mechanism for Children at Risk is scheduled to determine further steps in the case.

Social services acted immediately following the incident, removing the children from the home on the same day due to the clear danger to their lives. According to Rositsa Alexandrova, head of the Child Protection Department in Yambol, emergency procedures were triggered, with rapid coordination between foster care teams and medical staff, who examined the children shortly after their rescue. Both were found to be in good physical condition.

The two siblings have been placed separately in professional foster families, with efforts underway to find a solution that would allow them to be raised together without breaking their bond. Initial findings from the social services indicate that the children had been left unattended on previous occasions, with authorities concluding that they had been neglected and exposed to serious risks to their health and safety.

The incident was witnessed and filmed by a neighbor, who said she decided to broadcast the situation live after alerting authorities, in order to ensure a faster response. She noted that many similar cases often remain unreported due to fear or hesitation among bystanders.

A multidisciplinary team involving police, prosecutors, municipal representatives and social services will assess the case and decide on future measures, including the legal consequences for the parents. The gathered evidence will be submitted to the prosecutor’s office.

Acting Social Minister Hasan Ademov commented that state institutions reacted promptly to secure the children’s safety and provide them with a protected environment. He added that work with the parents is ongoing, including evaluating the possibility of eventual reintegration, but stressed that at this stage the children require continued support through social services.