Shows 247 Bomb Shelters in Bulgaria, 18 of Them Functional

In response to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, several European nations, including Bulgaria, have begun reviewing the readiness of their civil defense infrastructure. The University Rescue Squad (URS), a component of the Bulgarian Youth Red Cross, recently published a map detailing the location of civil defense and fallout shelters across the country to boost public awareness. According to fire service data, Bulgaria possesses 247 designated civil defense and fallout shelters.

However, the readiness assessment indicates that only 18 of these facilities are currently operational for their intended purpose. The remaining shelters, the data suggests, could be made functional within one week. Each shelter is assigned an official caretaker responsible for its maintenance, and the fire service conducts mandatory inspections twice annually.

In Sofia, City Hall reports that ten of the 92 local shelters have undergone overhauls in the last two years, with renovations beginning at six more, and the remainder scheduled for repair within four years. Many of these shelters are situated within schools and kindergartens. URS volunteer Radinel Pargov noted that some private shelters exist outside the official registry because they are privately owned and not under the fire service’s jurisdiction, though they remain available to the public.

Pargov also highlighted that while many settlements lack designated shelters, the capital offers substantial alternatives. The Metro system is cited as the largest potential shelter, capable of accommodating over 900,000 people. Additionally, the National Palace of Culture, underground garages, and tunnels can serve a similar protective function.

Topics: #bomb #shelters #bulgaria