Amid heightened international tensions stemming from the war in the Middle East, European nations, including Bulgaria, have been reviewing their civil defense infrastructure. In response, the University Rescue Squad (URS), affiliated with the Bulgarian Youth Red Cross, published a comprehensive map detailing the location of civil defense and fallout shelters across the country. This initiative aims to enhance public awareness regarding the accessibility and status of these facilities.
According to fire service data, Bulgaria possesses 247 such shelters. However, of this total, only 18 are currently reported as fully operational for their intended purpose. The remaining shelters, according to officials, can be made functional within one week.
Each facility is assigned an official custodian responsible for maintenance, and the fire service conducts bi-annual inspections. In Sofia, the City Hall reports that ten of the 92 local shelters have undergone overhauls in the last two years, with six more slated for renovation and the remainder scheduled for repair within four years. These structures are frequently located within schools and kindergartens.
URS volunteer Radinel Pargov noted that while some private shelters exist and are usable by the local population, they are not included on the official registry as they fall outside the fire service’s direct purview. Pargov also highlighted that certain settlements and parts of Sofia lack designated civil defense shelters. For mass sheltering capacity, the underground Metro system represents the largest resource, capable of accommodating over 900,000 people.
Additionally, the National Palace of Culture and underground garages can serve similar protective functions.
Topics: #bomb #shelters #bulgaria
