The northern Bulgarian town of Svishtov is reeling after a powerful landslide destroyed two houses early Wednesday following more than 50 hours of unbroken rainfall. Mayor Gencho Genchev confirmed that one home collapsed completely while another now dangles precariously above a slope in the Ribarska Cheshma area.
“There is a huge mass of soil pouring down, along with the base of the structure — the house is literally left suspended in the air,” Mayor Genchev told local media. The first emergency call came around 6:30 a.m. from Emanuil Chakarov Street, after residents reported a deep rumble and shifting ground.
Authorities immediately launched evacuation procedures for nearby households. A 60-year-old woman and a family of five were safely relocated to municipal housing. During the woman’s evacuation, one wall of her home gave way, leaving the property completely destroyed. Power to the area has been disconnected as a safety precaution.
The mayor explained that both affected buildings were structurally old, with foundations likely compromised by heavy rainfall exceeding 70 liters per square meter in the past two days. Municipal services and emergency teams remain on site as assessments continue.
Flooding has also been reported in garages and private properties throughout Svishtov. Fortunately, no injuries have been recorded so far. Crews cleared rock debris on the road to the nearby village of Oresh this morning, though cleanup operations continue across the municipality.
According to the local Hydro-Meteorological Station, rainfall over the past 24 hours reached 4.6 liters per square meter, including 51 liters in just 12 hours — nearly the region’s monthly average. Residents have shared concerns online that an additional 40 liters per square meter may fall in the coming days.
The persistent downpours have also destabilized terrain elsewhere in Bulgaria. In Asenovgrad municipality, a section of the road to the village of Kosovo was damaged, prompting a ban on heavy goods vehicles over three tons. On road III-8604 between Kosovo and Studenets, traffic is restricted to one lane due to a one-meter-deep landslide spanning 20 meters.
Rockfalls temporarily blocked the Veliko Tarnovo–Gorna Oryahovitsa road via Arbanasi, though it has since been cleared. Police have urged drivers to proceed cautiously amid slippery and unstable road conditions.
Further south, a separate landslide near Shipka Pass disrupted travel between Gabrovo and neighboring areas following overnight rainfall. The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology has since issued a red code warning for seven northern and central regions, including Silistra, Razgrad, Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven, Lovech, and Gabrovo.
An orange code remains in effect for Vratsa, Targovishte, and Dobrich, while Montana, Varna, and Shumen are under a yellow alert. Authorities warn that conditions remain critical as rainfall continues to weaken soil stability and increase the risk of further landslides.