The heightened geopolitical tensions stemming from the war in the Middle East have prompted several European nations, including Bulgaria, to review their civil defense infrastructure. In response, the University Rescue Squad (URS), affiliated with the Bulgarian Youth Red Cross, published a map detailing the locations of civil defense and fallout shelters across the country to enhance public awareness. According to fire service data, Bulgaria possesses 247 designated civil defense and fallout shelters.
However, the operational readiness of these facilities varies, with only 18 currently confirmed as fully functional. Officials noted that the remaining shelters can be made operational within one week. Maintenance is overseen by an assigned individual for each facility, and the fire service is mandated to conduct bi-annual inspections.
In Sofia, the City Hall reported that ten of the city’s 92 shelters have undergone refurbishment in the last two years, with six others scheduled for renovation. The remaining shelters are slated for repair within the next four years. Many of these shelters are situated within schools and kindergartens.
URS volunteer Radinel Pargov highlighted that while the official list is maintained by the fire service, private shelters exist but are not included due to private ownership. Pargov also noted that certain areas and settlements within Bulgaria lack designated civil defense shelters. For large-scale protection, the underground Metro system is cited as the largest capacity resource, capable of sheltering over 900,000 people.
Additionally, the National Palace of Culture, underground garages, and tunnels can serve similar protective purposes.
Topics: #bomb #shelters #bulgaria
