Powerful summer storms, accompanied by intense rainfall and hail, caused serious flooding and blocked key roadways in the country during the afternoon hours of August 26, 2026. As of 18:53 Bulgarian time, the situation in the regions of Peshtera, Batak and Sofia remains highly complicated. Dozens of emergency teams from the fire department and municipal services are on the ground. They are working to remove fallen trees, clean up debris and drain critical areas.
The Peshtera - Batak road is completely closed
The situation in Pazardzhik District is extremely difficult. Due to the strong storm that broke out in the Batak region and torrential rain, the level of the Stara Reka River has risen sharply, the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (ODMVR) - Pazardzhik informed. As a result of the tidal wave and strong wind, dozens of fallen trees and a rock mass have completely blocked traffic on the Peshtera - Batak road.
The Road Infrastructure Agency (API) and the police announced that the route is temporarily closed in both directions until the weather conditions fully normalize. A detour route has been introduced for drivers: Varvara - Kostandovo station - Rakitovo - Batak. Authorities are urging people to travel only when absolutely necessary and with extreme caution.
Critical situation in Peshtera
In parallel, the Stara Reka River partially overflowed its banks within the city of Peshtera. Serious flooding was recorded in the “Lukovitsa“ neighborhood, where private properties, yards and ground floors were flooded. Mixed teams of the Regional Fire Safety and Population Protection Service (RFPSPZN) from Peshtera and Pazardzhik were immediately dispatched to the scene to assist the local population.
A powerful hailstorm hits Sofia: Streets and manholes are being drained
At the same time, a strong thunderstorm with walnut-sized hail passed over Sofia. According to data from the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH), between 15 and 20 liters of rain per square meter fell in the capital in just one hour. This led to serious flooding on central boulevards and paralyzed traffic in the southern and western neighborhoods.
The press center of the Sofia Municipality reported that at the time of updating the information, the following had been received:
- 34 signals for fallen trees and large branches on roadways and cars;
- 14 signals for serious turns on streets;
- 3 signals for defective or fallen traffic lights (including at the intersection of „Bulgaria“ Blvd. and „Akademik Ivan Geshov“ Blvd.).
The teams of the „Emergency Assistance and Prevention“ Directorate and employees of the Sofia Inspectorate are carrying out massive patrols. Currently, they are draining critical road sections and urgently cleaning the dozens of manholes clogged with fallen leaves to ensure normal water drainage. Monitoring of riverbeds and dams on the territory of Sofia continues in a continuous mode.