Following increased geopolitical tensions, particularly concerning the Middle East, several European nations, including Bulgaria, have reviewed the status and readiness of their civil defense infrastructure. In response, the University Rescue Squad (URS), affiliated with the Bulgarian Youth Red Cross, released a comprehensive map detailing the location of civil defense and fallout shelters across the country to enhance public awareness. Official fire service data indicates that Bulgaria possesses 247 such shelters.
However, the report notes that only 18 are currently confirmed as immediately operational for their intended purposes, although the remaining facilities are estimated to become functional within a week. Maintenance protocols require an assigned official for each facility, and the fire service is mandated to conduct inspections biannually. In Sofia, City Hall reports that over the last two years, ten of the city’s 92 shelters have undergone overhauls, with six more slated for renovation and the remainder scheduled for repair within four years.
Shelters are frequently located within schools and kindergartens. URS volunteer Radinel Pargov pointed out that while some private shelters exist and can be used by the public, they are not included on the official registry as they fall outside the fire service’s jurisdiction. Despite the existing infrastructure, Pargov noted that many settlements and parts of Sofia lack designated civil defense shelters.
For mass sheltering, the Metro underground railway remains the largest capacity option, capable of accommodating over 900,000 people. Additionally, the National Palace of
Topics: #bomb #shelters #bulgaria
