Sofia, Bulgaria – A major heating pipeline failure has left residents in nine Sofia neighborhoods without heating and hot water, disrupting daily life in the capital.
The breakdown occurred on a main heating pipeline along Tsvetan Lazarov Boulevard, near its intersection with Christopher Columbus Boulevard, prompting “Toplofikatsiya Sofia” to declare an emergency and suspend heating services on February 13, 2025.
The affected neighborhoods include Hristo Smirnenski, Geo Milev, Yavorov, Poduene-Center, Reduta, Iztok, Dianabad, Lozenets, and part of Druzhba-1.
The sudden loss of heating has particularly impacted healthcare and educational institutions in these areas, with authorities advising them to implement alternative heating solutions to ensure the continuity of essential services.
According to “Toplofikatsiya Sofia,” emergency teams have been working tirelessly for several days to repair the damaged pipeline without shutting down the heat supply.
However, the extent of the damage has forced a full shutdown of the pipeline to facilitate urgent repairs.
In response, the company has also mobilized additional repair teams to inspect and reinforce other vulnerable sections of the heating network to prevent further disruptions.
The heating company’s Executive Director, Petar Petrov, acknowledged the significant inconvenience caused by the outage and assured residents that all possible measures are being taken to restore heating services as quickly as possible.
“Our emergency teams are working around the clock to repair the damage and minimize the impact on the affected neighborhoods. We understand the frustration of our customers, especially in the winter season, and are committed to resolving this issue as swiftly as possible,” Petrov stated.
This latest disruption comes just days after another heating failure in Sofia’s Mladost 1 and Darvenitsa neighborhoods. The previous incident led to students being temporarily switched to remote learning.
However, “Toplofikatsiya Sofia” managed to restore heating services nine hours ahead of schedule, mitigating the impact on residents.
Many residents in the affected areas have voiced their frustration, expressing concerns about the reliability of the city’s heating infrastructure.
“It’s the middle of winter, and we have no heating. This is unacceptable,” said one resident from Geo Milev. Another resident from Reduta added, “The authorities need to invest in long-term solutions instead of waiting for breakdowns to happen.”
The disruption has also raised questions about the overall condition of Sofia’s central heating system, with experts warning that aging infrastructure and lack of preventive maintenance may lead to more frequent failures in the future.
Consumer protection groups have urged “Toplofikatsiya Sofia” to improve its emergency response planning and communication with affected residents.
While the company has yet to provide an estimated timeline for the completion of repairs, officials have assured the public that updates will be provided as the work progresses.
Residents are advised to follow official announcements from “Toplofikatsiya Sofia” and local authorities for the latest information on service restoration.
As Sofia experiences cold winter temperatures, authorities are encouraging affected residents to seek alternative heating options where possible and to take necessary precautions to stay warm until heating services are fully restored.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members