Floods hit southern Bulgaria

Torrential rains and melting snow inundated large areas in southern Bulgaria, causing flooding, authorities said Monday. No injuries were reported.

Photo: Floods hit southern Bulgaria

Saedinenie, a southern town of some 10,000 inhabitants, declared the situation an emergency after flood waters swamped the train station and several roads.

Three large artificial lakes on the Arda River in the southern region of Kardzhali have been overflowing, causing downstream waters to swell to dangerous levels, the civil defense agency said.

The agency has warned authorities in the neighboring Greek border region of Evros of the flooding risk.

The Arda runs from Bulgaria into Greece and Turkey.

Several villages in the worst-hit regions of Kardzhali, Haskovo, Plovdiv and Smolyan have been stranded due to flooded bridges or mudslides, reports the AP.

I.L.