In response to geopolitical instability 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 map detailing the location of civil defense and fallout shelters across Bulgaria to enhance public awareness. Official data indicates that Bulgaria possesses 247 civil defense and fallout shelters.
However, the immediate operational readiness of these facilities is limited, with only 18 reported as immediately usable. The remaining shelters are estimated to become functional within one week. Maintenance protocols require that each facility be overseen by an officially designated individual, and the fire service is mandated to conduct inspections twice annually.
In Sofia, City Hall reports that ten of the city’s 92 shelters have undergone overhauls in the last two years, with six others currently undergoing renovation. The remainder are scheduled for repair within the next four years. Many of these facilities are situated within schools and kindergartens.
URS volunteer Radinel Pargov noted a distinction between state-managed and privately owned shelters. While the official map covers state facilities, private shelters, which are under private ownership, are not included but can be utilized by local residents. Pargov also pointed out that many settlements and parts of Sofia lack dedicated civil defense shelters.
For large-scale protection, the underground Metro system remains the largest available shelter in the capital, capable of sheltering over 900,000 people, alongside underground garages and tunnels.
Topics: #bomb #shelters #bulgaria
