site.btaAmber Code Warning Declared for Toundzha River at Elhovo, Mochouritsa River at Vodenichane

Amber Code Warning Declared for Toundzha River at Elhovo, Mochouritsa River at Vodenichane


Sofia, February 6 (BTA) - A "Be Prepared" amber code has been
declared for the Toundzha river at Elhovo and the Mochouritsa at
 Vodenichane (Southern Bulgaria), the Ministry of Environment
and Water said Friday, quoting the early warning systems.

A yellow "Be Aware" code has been declared for another six
rivers in the country, including Maritsa. The waters in the
monitored rivers in the country are high. Waters may rise even
further, particularly in the Danube region.

In the Black Sea region, the waters of Louda Kamchia, Sredetska
and Fakiiska rivers in their upper flows are expected to rise.
In the Eastern Aegean basin rising waters are expected in the
upper flow of the Maritsa and its tributaries, in the Stryama
and Vucha, and in the upper flows of Toundzha and Arda. Rising
waters are expected along the entire flows of Strouma, Mesta and
 Dospat in the Western Aegean basin.

Six of the larger complex dams are overflowing without problems.
 Twelve dams are filled over 90 per cent.

The ownership of 253 of the total of 268 neglected dams has been
 established following a commissioned probe, Environment and
Water Minister Ivelina Vassileva told MPs of the National
Assembly's Environment Committee during Thursday's blitz
question time.

The remaining 15 dams are under the control of the regional
governors.

Maximum efforts are being made to prevent floodings and the
ministry is working in close cooperation with the relevant
weather forecast unit of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and
international partners, and issues timely warnings of risks to
local authorities.

Taking MP questions, Vasileva said the measures for preventing
risks of flooding are funded under different programmes and 120
million leva have been set aside for this purpose in the new
Operational Programme Environment.

Last year the EU Solidarity Fund extended 10 million euro to
cover the damages of floodings.