A state of emergency was declared in Veliko Tarnovo after torrential rainfall caused the Yantra River to overflow overnight on Sunday May 24th. Neigbourhoods were flooded, infrastucture was damaged and more than 100 households across the municipality were affected by this meteorological event.
The severe weather developed within a highly unstable air mass over central and eastern Bulgaria, where meteorologists had issued yellow rainfall alerts warning of thunderstorms, hail risk and intense convective activity. Forecasters said repeated rounds of convection developed over central Bulgaria as a slow-moving storm system remained nearly stationary over the region, creating dangerous flash-flood dynamics.
Meteorologists reported exceptionally intense rainfall rates during the storm, with precipitation locally reaching around 50 liters per square meter per hour (50 mm/h or 2 inches/h). Between 20:00 and midnight on Saturday, more than 120 mm (4.7 inches) of rain fell over Veliko Tarnovo and nearby settlements, triggering rapid flash flooding and a sharp rise in river levels. In Gabrovo region, nearly 52 l/m² (52 mm or 2 inches) of rain was recorded within 24 hours.
The Yantra River burst its banks during the night, inundating low-lying parts of the historic “Asenov” neighborhood and nearby areas along the river. The river has since fallen below 3 meters (9.8 feet), close to normal levels, but authorities continue round-the-clock monitoring as additional rainfall remains possible.
Велико Търново сега. А това дори не е голямата вода. Голямата приливна вълна ще удари града между 5:30 и 6:00 сутринта. Отнесени са множество пътища, мостове, коли. Вече тече евакуация от ниските части на града, за момента няма потвърдени жертви. Молете се за Велико Търново! 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/5r32uuCisY
— Всичко е точно (@_takeonmenow_) May 23, 2026
Low-lying areas in Debelets, Prisovo and Pchelishte were also flooded, with water entering yards, basements and ground floors of residential buildings. Significant damage was reported to roads and local infrastructure, including streets where asphalt was displaced by floodwaters.
No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported.
Emergency evacuations were carried out overnight in vulnerable sections of the “Asenov” neighborhood and along Kraybrezhna Street. Veliko Tarnovo Mayor Daniel Panov personally assisted in evacuating an elderly woman from Grigoriy Tsamblak Street in the “Sveta Gora” district.
Бясната Янтра във Велико Търново преди около 12 часа, преди голямата вълна. 6 часа по-късно в ранните часове на сутринта нивото и се повиши с над 1 метър. pic.twitter.com/4Wkm1mROpM
— Всичко е точно (@_takeonmenow_) May 23, 2026
The entire courtyard of the historic Church of the Holy Forty Martyrs was flooded, although officials confirmed that water did not enter the church building itself.
Police, fire brigade units, rescue teams and cadets from the National Military University remained deployed across the affected areas throughout the night. Regional Governor Marin Bogomilov also participated in rescue operations. Evacuated residents were accommodated at a municipal crisis center in the “Zona B” district.
Authorities said more than 120 households in Veliko Tarnovo municipality alone sustained damage to homes, commercial properties, yards and agricultural land. Ten municipal commissions have begun documenting losses as cleanup operations continue.
Volunteer groups joined residents in draining flooded homes and removing mud and debris in the hardest-hit communities. The municipality has distributed cleaning materials and installed special waste containers for damaged furniture and household appliances.
Further downstream, the Yantra River overflowed near the Kolyu Ficheto Bridge in the town of Byala, flooding part of the Expo Center “Kolyu Ficheto” complex and surrounding land. Floodwaters reached approximately 56 cm (22 inches), though only minor structural damage was reported.
A state of emergency also remains in effect in parts of Gabrovo region, particularly around Sevlievo and Dryanovo, where severe flooding damaged homes and infrastructure. In Sevlievo, floodwaters destroyed part of the municipal water supply network, leaving large areas temporarily without running water.
Emergency services across central northern Bulgaria responded to dozens of flood-related incidents over the past 24 hours, mainly involving flooded basements, stranded residents and dangerous river conditions. Authorities said the situation is gradually stabilizing, although hydrological monitoring continues across the Yantra River basin.
Meteorologists said the flooding was caused by repeated convective redevelopment over the same areas, producing extreme short-duration rainfall capable of overwhelming drainage systems and triggering rapid runoff into rivers and urban districts.
