At least three men have died after severe flooding struck the seaside resort of Elenite, near Burgas, Bulgaria. Local authorities ordered an evacuation after torrential rains caused a small river to overflow, inundating hotels, streets, and homes. Cars were swept away, and rescue teams from Nesebar, Pomorie, and Varna were deployed to assist trapped residents.
The resort town of Elenite, Bulgaria over the last 48 hours.
— Matthew Todd 🌏🔥 (@MrMatthewTodd) October 5, 2025
A heating atmosphere holds more moisture which means rainfall
intensity is increasing across the planet. Watch David Attenborough’s breaking boundaries on Netflix.
We are in a planetary emergency. pic.twitter.com/yW9aeOYT8i
Authorities declared a state of emergency in Tsarevo and Nesebar, while Burgas remains under partial emergency status. In Tsarevo alone, rainfall reached 225 liters per square meter (5.9 gallons per square foot), while the nearby village of Izgrev saw a record 410 liters per square meter (10.8 gallons per square foot) within 24 hours. Flooding cut off roads, damaged homes, and left hotels and shops underwater.
Mayor Marin Kirov of Tsarevo said the situation was “critical,” with rainfall far exceeding that of previous disasters. Search and rescue operations are ongoing to reach isolated residents using specialized equipment.
Heavy snow compounded the crisis in northern and western Bulgaria, where several mountain passes—including the Hemus motorway—were closed. Snow depths reached 50 cm (19.7 in) at Mount Murgash and 5–6 cm (2–2.3 in) on Cherni Vrah in the Vitosha range.
Environment Minister Manol Genov explained that Elenite’s flooding was caused by several normally dry gullies overflowing during the intense rainfall. He ordered an immediate investigation into whether construction in the area had complied with environmental and safety regulations. The tourism ministry also launched a separate inquiry into building permits issued for the resort.
This disaster adds to a tragic pattern of severe floods that have struck Bulgaria over the past decade:
- Asparuhovo, Varna (June 19th, 2014): A flash flood killed 13 people after torrential rain triggered a wave that swept through the district.
- Kameno and Polski Izvor, Burgas region (October 2017): Three people died when heavy rains caused another destructive surge.
- Southern Black Sea Coast (September 2023): Severe flooding hit Tsarevo and Lozenets, leaving four people dead and widespread damage.
Now, Burgas faces yet another record-breaking deluge. Meteorological data show rainfall totals of 410 liters per square meter (10.8 gallons per square foot) in Izgrev and 225 (5.9 gallons per square foot) in Tsarevo—among the heaviest ever recorded in the region. Elsewhere, towns such as Kazanlak, Pazardzhik, and Vratsa received around 100 liters per square meter (2.6 gallons per square foot) in just 24 hours, overwhelming drainage systems.
Bulgaria’s recent wave of extreme weather has underscored the country’s growing vulnerability to climate-related disasters, with alternating floods and early snowstorms now testing local infrastructure and emergency response capacity.
