The national system for early warning of the population in cases of disasters will notify 51% of the population at the municipal level. At the moment it covers about 39% of the population of Bulgaria. The modernization and upgrading of the system has been funded by the Operational Program “Environment 2014-2020” with 49.5 million BGN, as it was clearified at a joint briefing today by the Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova and the Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev.

“With these actions, we are taking not one, but several steps forward towards providing a key preventive tool for informing the population in the event of disasters,” said Minister Karamfilova. She explained that the system is planned to cover 100% of the population. With the funds under the new “Environment” program 2021-2027, the system will be fully completed at the regional level.

Minister Karamfilova noted that thanks to the good communication and active partnership between the Ministry of Interior, the project was prepared at a fast pace and with quality.

Additionally, after a preliminary analysis in the end of 2022, the possibilities were identified to prevent any loss of funds under the operational program.

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev added that the project affects 11 regions, 96 municipal centers, and a population of about 650 000 people. “One should think about prevention. The system is modern and its effect will be very useful”, clarified the minister.

The project has a significant contribution to disaster risk prevention and management on the territory of Bulgaria, to the protection of the life and health of the population in cases of disasters or danger thereof, as well as to commitments by Bulgaria within the applicable European legislation.

The activities within the project will also come in support of the national efforts to build a comprehensive national early warning system for the territory of the country, as well as of the reactions by the authorities and the population, and the reduction of risk factors in terms of floods, landslides, and other disasters.