Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

More than 200 forest fires in Bulgaria since beginning of 2016

Photo: BGNES

Since the beginning of the year, more than 200 forest fires have taken place on the territory of Bulgaria. Natural fires that erupted because of lightning were just 2 percent. Seven percent of fires were proven to be intentional. 80 percent were caused by negligence and 14 percent erupted because of unknown reasons. "Guilt of perpetrators is difficult to prove as they must be caught while committing the crime. In most cases authorities rely on confessions from perpetrators," Vladimir Konstantinov, an expert from the Forestry Agency, told the Bulgarian National Radio in an interview. Currently, there are video surveillance systems, enabling prevention and rapid response to fires, but they cover about 15-20% of the forest areas of the country, the expert added. Each year some 22,000 decares of Bulgarian forests burn.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Minister of Labour and Social Policy Ivaylo Ivanov

One out of five Bulgarians has received help from the European Social Fund

One out of five Bulgarians has received support from the European Social Fund during the past 7 years, caretaker Minister of Social Affairs Ivaylo Ivanov said at the "Europe is with me" forum, organized by the "Human Resources..

published on 9/18/24 11:46 AM
Minister Zapryanov

Bulgarian caretaker Minister of Defense participates in B9 Summit in Bucharest

Bulgarian Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov takes part in the B9 Defence Ministers Meeting, chaired by Romania and Poland. The forum takes place in Bucharest.  Minister Zapryanov spoke on Tuesday evening with his Romanian..

published on 9/18/24 10:41 AM
Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and Rumen Radev

North Macedonian foreign minister refused meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart in Sofia

The visit of North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova was on the occasion of a cultural event - the visit of the National Opera and Ballet of North Macedonia to Sofia, and did not have the character of a state, official..

published on 9/18/24 9:50 AM