The situation in Western and Central Bulgaria remains critical after the powerful thunderstorms and torrential rains that hit the country. As of 1:45 a.m. on August 25, 2026, the situation is most dire in the Peshtera municipality, where rescue teams are facing a serious challenge in an attempt to find a missing citizen.
Rescue operation in Peshtera
In the cave neighborhood of “Lukovitsa“ the incoming wave of the Stara Reka River partially overflowed its bed and flooded dozens of private properties, yards and ground floors. According to data from the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (ODMVR) – Pazardzhik, A 58-year-old man is missing after being swept away by the powerful current of the river.
The Deputy Mayor of Peshtera Municipality, Galbina Karamiteva, explained to the media that the man managed to help his wife and son escape the tidal wave, but he himself was swept away by the water. The large-scale operation involved police, firefighters, sniffer dogs and a drone with a thermal camera. Due to the risky conditions and the onset of night, the search operations were temporarily suspended and resumed in the early morning hours. A total of eight people from the endangered areas in the city have been successfully evacuated.
Blockade on the Peshtera - Batak road and interrupted economic power supply
The intense rainfall in the Batak and Tsigov Chark regions, accompanied by heavy hail, led to landslides, fallen trees and large branches. For security reasons path Cave – Batak remains closed to traffic overnight.
Law enforcement agencies are appealing to drivers to use a detour route via:
- s. Varvara
- Gara Kostandovo
- gr. Rakitovo
- town of Batak
While emergency teams in Peshtera and Batak describe the damage, mayors of several smaller settlements in Western Bulgaria are considering introducing a partial state of emergency. The reason is the power outage in over 12 villages due to power lines torn by the storm. As of 1:45 a.m., teams from “Electricity Distribution Networks West“ (ERM West) are working to repair the damage, but in mountainous areas access to the facilities is hampered by mud and fallen rock masses.
Hundreds of acres of agricultural land and orchards ready for harvest in the Pazardzhik region have been flooded. Local agricultural cooperatives are already preparing documents for convening interdepartmental commissions to establish the size of the destroyed crop and to initiate procedures for state compensation in the event of 100% of the areas being damaged.
The pogrom in Sofia: Flooded streets and fallen traffic lights
The capital also fell victim to a short-lived but extremely intense summer storm. In the afternoon, hail the size of a walnut fell over Sofia, with the amount of rain reaching between 15 and 20 liters per square meter.
According to information from the General Directorate of Fire Safety and Population Protection (GDPBZN) and the Sofia Municipality, dozens of signals were processed within an hour:
- 34 сигнала за паднали дървета и опасни клони.
- 14 сигнала за сериозни завирявания по ключови булеварди (включително бул. „Евлоги и Христо Георгиеви“).
- 3 сигнала за дефектирали или паднали светофарни уредби, включително на кръстовището на бул. „България“ и бул. „Академик Иван Евстратиев Гешов“.
Един от най-фрапантните инциденти в София бе регистриран в района на НДК, където паднало дърво проби предното стъкло на лек автомобил. Въпреки наводнените участъци и кадри на граждани, показващи навлизане на вода в метрото, от Столична община потвърдиха, че няма спрени линии на подземния транспорт или закъснения в градската мрежа. Към момента няма данни за пострадали хора на територията на София, а аварийните екипи на „Аварийна помощ и превенция“ продължават работата по отводняването и почистването на шахтите.
Как да задействате застраховката си след градушка?
Хилядите собственици на пострадали автомобили и имоти в София и засегнатите региони трябва да реагират бързо, за да получат обезщетение от застрахователните компании. Асоциацията на българските застрахователи (АБЗ) напомня ключовите стъпки:
- Снимайте веднага щетите: Направете подробни снимки и видеоклипове на ударените от градушката детайли по колата или наводнения имот още на място.
- Срок за автомобили (Каско): Повечето застрахователи изискват писмено или онлайн уведомление за щети от природни бедствия в срок от 3 до 5 работни дни от събитието.
- Срок за имоти (Имуществена застраховка): За наводнени или повредени къщи и апартаменти срокът обикновено е по-дълъг – между 5 и 7 дни, но експертите съветват да не се бавите.
- Official note from NIMH: Insurance companies require an official document certifying the meteorological event. Such a note is required by the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH), but in the event of mass disasters, many companies also accept media publications or relax this regime.
NIMH forecast
The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) reports that the yellow code for dangerous precipitation in 16 areas has already expired. Forecasters predict stabilization of the weather during the day on August 25, 2026, with mostly sunny weather expected with maximum temperatures between 30° and 35°, although local precipitation is still possible in the afternoon over the western regions.