Construction works on the Irakli beach on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast have been stopped by officials of the Directorate for National Construction Supervision (DNSK) through an order of Regional Development Minister Lilyana Pavlova.

The construction of a holiday complex by the Emona 2000 company was suspended late on Monday after thousands of Bulgarians staged protests in four cities to oppose the devastation of protected natural areas.

The construction works were halted temporarily over the lack of a document certifying a contract for the disposal of construction waste, a mandatory requirement of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report.

"The nonobservance of the terms of the EIA decision is also an infringement of the Spatial Development Act, which is the reason for the halt of construction works," Bulgaria's Regional Development Ministry said in a statement.

DNSK inspectors also revealed a mismatch in the number and type of buildings that were being built in the Kladeri area on the territory of the village of Emona, Burgas municipality.

The inspectors issued two statements of findings about the irregularities, which can be appealed within 7 days, after which orders will be issued to stop the construction works on the site.

Speaking at a special press conference on the issue, Environment Minister Nona Karadzhova argued earlier on Monday that the construction works were legal and the protests were biased.