Around 20 people evacuated in Sevlievo after Rositsa River overflows

About 20 people have been evacuated from their homes in Sevlievo. Water is currently being supplied to the municipality by tanker trucks after the water supply was shut off for more than 15 hours.

Several neighborhoods in Gabrovo are also without water due to contamination and turbidity in the water sources.

The overflowing waters of the Rositsa River in Sevlievo threatened residents whose homes are in the low-lying parts of the town, but they are now out of danger and staying with relatives, said Sevlievo Mayor Ivan Ivanov. Some residents in the affected area refused evacuation.

Protective embankments are being built along the river, and volunteers are joining the effort. The waters are gradually receding, but the mayor expressed concern:

“The forecast says it will rain again until 2:00 a.m., and it is not impossible that tomorrow morning we could face a similar situation to this morning.”

Water service in Sevlievo was stopped last night and is now being replaced by tanker deliveries. Bottled mineral water has also been delivered to a warehouse of the Bulgarian Red Cross.

Due to muddy and contaminated water sources, supply has also been cut off in several neighborhoods of Gabrovo. Nearly all villages in the municipality have been seriously affected by the torrential rainfall. The main damage in both Gabrovo and Dryanovo is to road and street infrastructure.

Work continues to clear clogged ravines and drainage channels in populated areas, which authorities say is the most common cause of flooded homes.

“The ravine overflowed and everything entered the house. Inside, everything is flooded. The problem is this ravine, which is full of rocks, garbage, and tires that we are removing with an excavator. We people are to blame,” said a resident.

Flooded sections, debris deposits, and landslides are disrupting traffic on the national road network. Traffic is restricted on the road between Sevlievo and Gabrovo near the “Chakala” area. The road between Tryavna and Tsareva Livada remains closed.

Dryanovo Railway Station has been flooded, and train traffic between Dryanovo and Plachkovtsi has been suspended temporarily.

In Sevlievo, the festive program for Saints Cyril and Methodius Day on May 24 was canceled.

Authorities in Gabrovo Province report that all sections of the national road network are now open to traffic again, although travel remains difficult in some areas after the flooding. Drivers are advised to proceed with increased caution.

Edited by R. Petkova