Amid heightened global tensions following the war in the Middle East, several European nations, including Bulgaria, have reviewed their civil defense infrastructure. The University Rescue Squad (URS), part of the Bulgarian Youth Red Cross, recently published a comprehensive map detailing civil defense and fallout shelters across the country to boost public awareness. According to fire service data, Bulgaria possesses 247 such shelters.
However, the readiness assessment indicates that only 18 are immediately operational for their intended purposes, though the remaining facilities can be functional within a week. Each shelter is assigned an official caretaker responsible for maintenance, and the fire service conducts mandatory inspections biannually. In Sofia, the City Hall reports that ten of the city’s 92 shelters have undergone overhauls in the last two years, with six more undergoing renovation, and the remainder scheduled for repair within four years.
These facilities are often situated within schools and kindergartens. URS volunteer Radinel Pargov noted that the map excludes privately owned shelters, which, while usable by the local community, are not under the direct charge of the fire service. Pargov also highlighted that many areas lack designated civil defense shelters.
He pointed out that the underground Metro system in the capital represents the largest capacity, capable of sheltering over 900,000 people. Furthermore, the National Palace of Culture, underground garages, and tunnels offer alternative protection in the event of a bomb threat.
Topics: #bomb #shelters #bulgaria
