Following increased regional instability in the Middle East, attention has been directed toward civil defense infrastructure across Europe, prompting a review of resources in Bulgaria. The University Rescue Squad (URS), a branch of the Bulgarian Youth Red Cross, published a map detailing the locations of civil defense and fallout shelters throughout the country to raise public awareness. According to fire service data, Bulgaria possesses 247 such shelters.
However, only 18 are currently confirmed as ready for immediate use according to their designed purpose. Officials noted that the remaining facilities can be made operational within one week. Maintenance responsibilities are assigned to an official at each site, and the fire service conducts mandatory inspections biannually.
In Sofia, the city has 92 designated shelters. City Hall reports that ten of these have undergone overhauls in the last two years, while six are currently undergoing renovation, with the remainder scheduled for repair within four years. These facilities are frequently situated within schools and kindergartens.
URS volunteer Radinel Pargov noted that the official registry does not account for privately owned shelters, which are still accessible to the public but fall outside the fire service’s direct management. While many settlements lack designated bomb shelters, the capital offers massive alternatives. The underground Metro system stands as the largest capacity shelter, capable of accommodating over 900,000 people.
Additionally, the National Palace of Culture, underground garages, and tunnels can be utilized
Topics: #bomb #shelters #bulgaria
What is the current operational status and capacity of the non-functional bomb shelters in Bulgaria?