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Numerous violations along Bulgarian Black Sea Coast found after deadly floods

Wednesday, 19 November 2025, 14:51

Numerous violations along Bulgarian Black Sea Coast found after deadly floods

PHOTO Ministry of Environment and Water

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Violations were found in 27% of the inspected sections along the Black Sea coast, according to the control authorities of the Ministry of Environment and Water. Minister Manol Genov ordered the inspection following the October floods in the southern Black Sea region, which claimed four lives.

According to Genov, 52 river sections along the Black Sea coast were inspected - 36 in the south and 16 in the north. Fourteen had impaired flow capacity, seven were covered, and nine were built over, reporter Mira Stefanova reported.

“About 27% of the inspected sections show actual violations. The biggest problems are in the urbanized areas of Sveti Vlas, Elenite, Lozenets, Tsarevo, Sunny Beach, and Varna. Protected areas such as Ropotamo, Vaya, Aheloy, the Veleka River, and Karaagach are in exceptionally good condition.”

Nature or human negligence at the root of floods on the Black Sea Coast

The inspections revealed reduced watercourse capacity in Sveti Vlas, Elenite, Lozenets, and Tsarevo. 

Uncontrolled construction and institutional inaction are the cause of the floods

Genov pointed out the causes of the floods along the Southern Black Sea coast: “First of all, we can identify meteorological and geographical factors. In addition, construction. One of the factors is the covering of riverbeds.”

How building permits are issued and illegal construction becomes legal