A major flood hit the Elenite holiday village on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast at around 11:40 LT on October 3, 2025, after 200–250 mm (7.9–9.8 inches) of rain fell in a short period. Environment Minister Manol Genov described the rainfall as among the most intense recorded in the region in recent years. One man was confirmed dead, and six women, including three Polish tourists, were rescued. At least one person remains missing in nearby Sveti Vlas.
A man was found dead in the basement of a building in Elenite after torrential rainfall triggered sudden flooding in the resort complex. Deputy Minister of Interior Toni Todorov confirmed that six women were evacuated, three of them Polish tourists.
The BG-ALERT system was activated at 11:42 LT (08:42 UTC) as the ravine above the holiday village overflowed following extreme rainfall. The water surge inundated hotels, parking lots, and other buildings, carrying cars into the sea.
Meteorological stations near the Black Sea coast measured rainfall totals of 200–250 mm (7.9–9.8 inches) within a short period, overwhelming the ravine above the resort. Authorities confirmed that such intensity ranks among the highest recorded in the region in recent years.
More than ten fire brigade teams were deployed to Elenite, reinforced by units from Nessebar and Pomorie. Specialized divers and amphibious vehicles arrived from Varna to reach submerged structures, while two naval boats from the Atia base supported evacuations along the flooded coastline. Rescue crews equipped with climbing and high-reach gear had to evacuate people from upper floors of hotels where water levels had risen too quickly for ground access.
Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov said the lack of monitoring stations in the Elenite area complicated flood prediction and ordered an inspection of Basin Directorate procedures related to local construction and watercourse management.
Satellite image showing widespread cloud cover over southeastern Europe during the heavy rainfall event that caused flooding in Elenite, Bulgaria, at 08:40 UTC on October 3, 2025. Credit: EUMETSAT/Meteosat, Zoom Earth, The WatchersAs of 14:30 LT (11:30 UTC), search operations in submerged hotels and basements were ongoing, with divers and specialized teams deployed.
Energy Minister Rosen Stankov reported that a power substation in the Burgas region was briefly flooded but drained in time to prevent outages. As a precaution, several transformers were shut down to avoid surges and the risk of electric shock. Technical teams are now inspecting infrastructure in areas where water levels were highest.
Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov confirmed that additional naval flood control units are on standby. Meanwhile, Regional Development Minister Ivan Ivanov announced sanctions against road authorities and the state company Avtomagistrali for failing to follow instructions on Hemus Motorway safety measures during the heavy rainfall event.
Meanwhile, the region was struck by a second wave of heavy rainfall that caused additional damage across Nessebar Municipality. The coastal town of Sveti Vlas, situated within Nessebar Municipality just south of the Elenite resort, was among the hardest hit.
Mayor of Nessebar Nikolay Dimitrov said that the town’s sports complex was completely destroyed, houses were inundated up to the second floor, and many cars were swept into the sea.
Dimitrov confirmed that a state of emergency was declared, schools were closed, transport suspended, and dangerous roads sealed off to prevent further accidents.
Dmitrov said crisis headquarters was established in the Nessebar municipal building and described the scale of the flooding as unprecedented in recent memory, noting that despite efforts to clear drainage systems ahead of the storm, the Old Town of Nessebar was again submerged. He added that Sveti Vlas, a landslide-prone area, was overwhelmed by runoff from the mountains, producing what he called a “huge volume” of water.
Despite warnings, traffic built up from Sunny Beach toward St. Vlas, and several vehicles became stranded. One man who called emergency services to report being swept away by a surge in his car in Sveti Vlas remains missing. Authorities believe he may have been carried out to sea, though only two cars are currently visible on the surface, and divers cannot enter the water due to rough conditions.
The flood in Elenite followed conditions forecast by the European Storm Forecast Experiment (ESTOFEX), which issued a level 2 warning for eastern and southeastern Bulgaria on October 2, forecasting 200–350 mm (7.9–13.8 inches) of rainfall and an elevated risk of flash floods and landslides. Read more in our coverage here.
Image credit: GFS, Tropical TidbitsFeatured image: Damage after severe flood in Elenite, Bulgaria, on October 3, 2025. Credit: BGNES (stillshot)