Comenius project " Life by the water"- Presentation about floods and droughts influence on the economy of Bulgaria

2. Natural disasters

3. • Floods are one of the greatest natural threats
in our country.
• A total of 30% of the disasters, occurred in
Bulgaria during the period 1974 – 2010.
• The first are floods and on the second place -
the hurricane winds.

4. The summer in 2005
• Summer floods are the
most devastating
disaster that happened
in Bulgaria.
• The victims are over 13
000 Bulgarian. Affected
in different ways are
more than 60 000
people.
• 70% of the land is
beneath water and over
3000 buildings became
untenantable.

5. 2005
During the second
major flood western
Bulgaria is flooded.
According to the
Standing Committee to
protect the population
from disasters,
emergencies and
accidents those were
the most intense
rainfalls in the last 50
years.

6. • The third wave of major floods affected
almost the entire country.
• The storm took the lives of 11 people. It was
declared a state of emergency in
23 municipalities.

7. September 2005
Throughout the country heavy rains
and rivers flooded industrial and residential
buildings, infrastructure objects and agricultural
lands.

8. 2006
• Over almost all Bulgarian land there
were torrential rains.
• 15 towns were flooded. In some places it
was declared an emergency situation.

9. • Heavy rain and strong winds flooded the South
coast of Bulgaria.
• For about 20 hours per square meter have
rainfell from 200 to 250 liters and in the town of
Malko Tarnovo was reach a record of 300 liters
per square meter.

10. 2006
• Danube river overflowed all Bulgarian north
coast.
• The level of the river marked a historical record.

11. 2007
After prolonged drought and abnormal
high temperatures during the season in the
areas of Vratsa and Montana fell heavy
rain accompanied by hail which destroyed
agricultural areas.

12. • Torrents poured almost all Bulgaria.
• In Sofia for days rain downpoured.
• On 20th of May Vladayska river flooded and Vladaya
– in the district of Sofia was under water.

13. 2008
From May to
September heavy
rains in:
 Shumen,
 Pleven,
 Razgrad
 and Rousse
mixed with hail, blocked
the traffic in the streets
and boulevards.

14. 2010
• In June
- torrential rain in the
central and southern
Bulgaria.
• Dams
and rivers increased
their levels
dramatically.

15. Drought in Bulgaria

16. Agricultural drought has perhaps
the worst impacts
• Drought is a natural phenomenon which is
the most damaging agriculture.
• As the agriculture is an important economic
factor in many countries, drought can have a
large number of economic and socio-
economic consequences such as loss of
income in agriculture and food industry,
significant higher water costs and other
equipment (e.g. irrigation systems).

17. Soil drought is a part of the
climactic cycle in Bulgaria
• Drought is a natural, recurrent feature of the
climate of Bulgaria.
• There are two main tendencies: increasing
air temperature and decreasing precipitation
amount.
• As a result during the second half of the
twentieth century soil drought has increased
its frequency and intensity.
• Many soil drought episodes occurred
especially during the last decade of the
previous century.

18.  The driest years in Bulgaria during the 20th
century were 1945 and 2000.
 Other considerable dry years were 1902,
1907, 1932, 1934, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1953,
1985, 1986, 1990, 1992 and 1993.

19. Drought Features in Bulgaria
 Drought in Bulgaria is usually a result of long
periods with low precipitation under anticyclonic
weather conditions. It can occur in any month of
the year.
 The weather conditions during drought are
characterised by decreasing precipitation, high
air temperatures, low humidity and warm, strong
winds.

20. Long-term drought can have negative impact on
the water balance of plants, causing unstable crop
physiological conditions and low crop yields, as
well as on threaten natural ecosystems and water
supplies.

21. SOME DATA ABOUT DISASTERS
DURING 2010
• Droughts – number – 6, damages for 10 000 levas
• Floods – number – 651, damages for 531 334 levas
• The most flooded regions in Bulgaria in 2010:
1. Smolyan – number – 179, damages for 8092 levas
2. Sliven – number – 102, damages for 1227 levas
3. Burgas – number – 82, damages for 492 945 levas

22. Last disasters happened in
Bulgaria
• Previously fallen heavy snow melting over
warmer days during the weekend, combined
with fresh precipitation of rain and snow caused
massive floods in the southern Bulgarian region
of Haskovo on 6Th of February 2012.
• A broken dam wall flooded the village of Biser
near the town of Harmanli in Haskovo Region,
claiming the lives of 8 people.
• The village of Biser was the worst affected after
waters of the nearby Ivanovo dam bust its wall.

24. In Kardjali region
• Water reservoirs and rivers have been
overflowing Kardzhali region in the south, as well
as in other parts of the country.
• Newly-inaugurated Bulgarian President, Rosen
Plevneliev, has joined other officials in touring
the flooded areas and monitoring the rescue
effort.
• In despite of very serious situation in the town,
there are no registered fatalities. 100 Svilengrad
residents were evacuated with the help of divers
and heavy equipment.

26. This project has been funded with support from
the European Commission.
This presentation reflects the views only of the
author, and the Commission cannot be held
responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein.
Thanks for your attention!