Bulgaria should work harder on preventive measures to avoid natural disasters, EU Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva has said.

In a statement issued for the anniversary of floods which last year hit the northwestern town of Mizia on August 2, Georgieva has warned that climate changes will bring about more and more disasters.

Therefore "we should invest in the ability to save and recover, in building infrastructure; and on a personal level, in property insurance" in regions where the risk is higher, she believes.

In her words, "prevention and preparation should be part of mentality of all Bulgarians in order not to allow any disaster to turn into a tragedy."

Bulgaria could use EU funding to boost preventive measures, she has noted.

At the time when floods hit Mizia, Georgieva was European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

A year later, Mizia is still finding it hard to recover from the floods, with many houses only partially rebuilt or renovated, limitations of access to water and crops affected by the contaminated soil.

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