In response to geopolitical developments, including the conflict in the Middle East, several European nations, including Bulgaria, have reviewed the status 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 enhance public awareness. Fire service data indicates that Bulgaria possesses 247 designated civil defense and fallout shelters.
However, the report notes that only 18 of these facilities are immediately operational for their intended purpose, though the remaining shelters can be made functional within one week. Maintenance protocols require an officially designated person for each shelter, and the fire service conducts mandatory inspections biannually. In Sofia, City Hall reports that ten of the city’s 92 shelters have undergone refurbishment in the last two years, with six more undergoing renovation, and the remainder scheduled for repair within four years.
These shelters are frequently situated within schools and kindergartens. URS volunteer Radinel Pargov pointed out that while some shelters are known to the public, they may not be on the official list if they are privately owned and not under the direct care of the fire service. Pargov noted that while many areas lack designated shelters, the underground railway system, the Metro, represents the capital’s largest potential shelter, capable of accommodating over 900,000 people.
Additionally, the National Palace of Culture, underground garages, and tunnels can serve similar protective functions within Bulgaria.
Topics: #bomb #shelters #bulgaria
