Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria ranks second in Europe when it comes to forest fires

Photo: BTA

Bulgaria is in second place after Cyprus in the ranking of forest fires in Europe in 2024, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.

About 600 forest fires break out in this country every year, affecting nearly 10,000 hectares of land and causing economic losses of about 2.5 million euros. This year will probably be the worst for the Bulgarian forest since the beginning of the new century.

The main causes of forest fires are negligence and arson. In addition, many years of harmful practices in agriculture and electricity distribution have persisted to this day.

"The data highlight the urgent need for comprehensive fire prevention strategies and sustainable forest management to mitigate the ecological challenge," commented Engineer Tihomir Tomanov, Executive Director of the Association of Municipal Forests. According to him, the passive behavior of the authorities and institutions responsible for fighting this phenomenon is also added as a reason for the huge number of forest fires.

"The only investments that are made in this direction are through the European programs for rural areas and for the environment," engineer Tihomir Tomanov adds. According to him, half of the Bulgarian forests fall into the high-risk category for fires.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

122 years since the outbreak of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising

The 122 nd anniversary of the outbreak of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising will be marked on 2 August in the locality Predela with a flower and wreath laying ritual at the monument Ilinden. Razlog municipality has announced that the ritual will..

published on 8/2/25 7:05 AM

The Union of Thracian Societies commemorates the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising

In the village of Slaveyno near Smolyan, the Union of Thracian Societies in Bulgaria is organizing a National Gathering-Pilgrimage on August 2 and 3. The festival is dedicated to the 122nd anniversary of the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising and the 145th..

published on 8/2/25 5:35 AM

Temperatures begin to rise over the weekend

On Saturday minimum temperatures will range between 15 and 23° C., for Sofia 15° C. During the day the weather will be predominantly sunny, cumulus clouds will form around and after midday. There will be rain and thunder mostly in the mountain..

published on 8/1/25 6:35 PM