Varna authorities activated the critical emergency system after torrential rains flooded streets and blocked traffic

Torrential rains flooded streets and underpasses in Varna, Bulgaria’s third-largest city, on Monday, causing traffic jams and significantly disrupting traffic. So far, 76.5 liters of precipitation per square meter have been recorded in the Black Sea coastal city.

Mayor Blagomir Kotsev activated the national BG-Alert system to rapidly warn the population. More than 300,000 residents were informed about the risk of flooding and strong winds and were advised to avoid underpasses and low-lying areas.

Local authorities said that leaves blown by the wind hampered the drainage of water from the road surface. Problems were also reported on the road between Varna and the Golden Sands resort.

Bulgarian meteorologists announced that the rains would continue and issued a red alert for heavy precipitation in five counties on Tuesday, November 3. More than 65 millimeters of rain and strengthening winds are forecast in Varna. During the same period, orange and yellow alerts are in effect in Romania for rain, wind, and snowfall in mountain areas.