Concerns regarding civil defense infrastructure in Bulgaria have intensified following the conflict in the Middle East, prompting local authorities to review the status of bomb and fallout shelters. The University Rescue Squad (URS), a branch of the Bulgarian Youth Red Cross, recently published a map detailing the nation’s emergency facilities to boost public awareness. Official fire service data indicates that Bulgaria possesses 247 civil defense and fallout shelters.
However, of this total, only 18 are currently deemed ready for immediate use; the remaining units can reportedly be made functional within one week. Maintenance protocols require an officially designated person for each shelter, a facility passport, and mandatory biannual inspections by the fire service. In Sofia alone, City Hall reported that ten of the 92 shelters have undergone overhauls in the last two years, with six more renovations underway and the rest scheduled for repair within the next four years.
Many of these shelters are situated within schools and kindergartens. URS volunteer Radinel Pargov noted that some shelters known to the public are not included on the official registry because they are privately owned and not managed by the fire service. While many settlements lack designated facilities, Pargov pointed out that the underground Metro system in the capital represents the largest potential shelter, capable of accommodating over 900,000 people.
Furthermore, the National Palace of Culture and underground tunnels can also serve as alternative emergency locations.
Topics: #bomb #shelters #bulgaria
