A tragic incident in the Bulgarian village of Breze has shed light on the dire consequences of inadequate infrastructure, with a resident dying after a fatal delay in receiving medical attention.
The man, who suffered a heart attack, was unable to be reached in time by an ambulance due to the village’s impassable roads, a recurring issue that local authorities have struggled to address for years.
The man’s life could not be saved after medics initially arrived promptly at the scene but were forced to stop at a distance from his home.
The ambulance was unable to reach the residence due to poor road conditions, prompting local residents to carry the patient in a desperate bid to shorten the response time.
However, this process delayed the transfer by roughly an hour, and the man’s condition worsened during that time. He was declared dead shortly after the ambulance departed.
Breze’s mayor, Irina Kochovska, confirmed that this tragedy is not an isolated incident but rather the latest in a long-standing battle with infrastructure issues.
The absence of a proper road connecting the village to the outside world has been a problem for 15 years. Despite numerous reports submitted to the Municipality of Devin, no significant progress has been made to address the issue.
Kochovska further explained that last summer, the village organized a protest to draw attention to the problem, leading to a promise of road construction with an allocation of 31,000 leva.
A contractor was selected, but the project has faced continual delays, with officials now promising construction to begin after the winter season.
The poor infrastructure in Breze has led to more than just delays in medical emergencies. The village is plagued by inaccessibility, with three streets remaining completely impassable. The lack of functional roads is also complicating funeral arrangements.
Kochovska recounted a case in which the body of an elderly woman had to be stored in a refrigerator in Smolyan until weather conditions allowed access to the village cemetery.
A local villager has been volunteering his own truck to transport deceased residents as no other means of transportation are available.
In addition to these challenges, the village has faced another disaster. A recent fire near the deceased man’s home destroyed three barns.
Although the fire department responded quickly, the inaccessibility of the area posed a significant risk, and only the proximity of a fire hydrant prevented further damage.
In light of these ongoing issues, Mayor Kochovska has taken action, sending petitions to various authorities, including the Regional Governor of Smolyan, the President, the Ombudsman, and even European institutions, in an effort to raise awareness and secure funding for improvements to Breze’s infrastructure.
The tragic death and the compounded hardships faced by the residents of Breze underscore the critical need for attention to infrastructure development in rural areas.
With winter approaching and no resolution in sight, the village is at a breaking point, and its residents are hoping that the authorities will finally take action to address the long-standing issues.