Published on 10:43 AM, June 20, 2014

10 killed in Bulgaria floods

10 killed in Bulgaria floods

People try to help a man during heavy flooding in the city of Varna, in northeastern Bulgaria yesterday. Photo: Reuters
People try to help a man during heavy flooding in the city of Varna, in northeastern Bulgaria yesterday. Photo: Reuters

At least 10 people have died and several are missing after torrential rain and heavy floods hit eastern Bulgaria, officials say.
Floodwaters in the Black Sea port city of Varna surged up to 1m (3.2ft).
Many residents had to be rescued as cars were swept away. Hundreds have been left without electricity or food.
There have been hailstorms and heavy rain in several parts of Bulgaria in recent days. Forecasts say the extreme weather is set to continue.
Forecasters said that the equivalent of a month's worth of rain fell in the regions of Varna and Burgas over the last 24 hours.
"The tragedy is enormous. I am here on a street in the suburb of Aspruhovo. The street is not here, the houses are not here, there are cars on top of each other," Varna mayor Ivan Portnih was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying.
Fire-fighters in the town of Kilifarevo in central Bulgaria rescued 11 people from the tops of their houses, police said.
Last month nearby Serbia and Bosnia were hit by the worst flooding since modern records began.