It is almost a month since the beginning of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. The conflicts between the two countries, which have claimed hundreds of lives, have sparked a wave of unrest across Europe and beyond. People’s fears are linked to the danger of World War III, bombing and, in the worst case scenario, nuclear conflict.
These and similar concerns have shifted the focus of the native government to issues that none of us imagined would be raised in the 21st century. One of them is the bomb shelter. How many do the state have, what is their condition and could they be used in case of need?
Meanwhile, on March 10, the Interior Ministry published a list of hiding places and radiation protection shelters that are in good and satisfactory condition. From the mentioned information it is clear that these sites are 292. Some of them are in schools, others are in industrial sites or municipal buildings.
Bulgaria has 704 collective means of protection, which is a significant number, said in early March Chief Commissioner Nikolay Nikolov, Director of the General Directorate „Fire Safety and Protection of the Population“.
What is the situation in the sixth largest city in Bulgaria, namely Stara Zagora? There are two hiding places on the territory of the district, indicated in the list of the Ministry of Interior. One of them is located on the site of KSZ TPP „Maritsa-East 2“ EAD in the village of Kovachevo, and the other is on the site of DZU AD – at 10 Nikola Petkov Blvd., in the industrial zone of the regional town.
In order to obtain more comprehensive information from Iskra.bg we contacted Commissioner Stoyan Kolev, Director of RD PBZN in Stara Zagora. He is of the opinion that for bomb shelters „there is no unnecessary noise. These are things that only in wartime, in reality, should come to light and be used by the citizens accordingly“.
- How many shelters are there in the area after all?
30 are owned by the Ministry of Interior in the district. 24 of them are in Stara Zagora, the other 6 are in Kazanlak. There are many others that are owned by the respective enterprises, there are in schools, in private residential buildings, there are everywhere.
- What is their current condition?
For some it is satisfactory, for some it is unsatisfactory. If they need to be used, they can be immediately able to perform their functions.
- How long would it take for this purpose?
It depends. It takes 5 to 10 days to put in order those who are in satisfactory condition. The others will need more time, but I can’t commit to specific deadlines.
„You know that no one uses snowplows in August. And we prepare them in October so that they can be available in the winter when there is snow. The situation is the same with hiding places and bomb shelters. If necessary and if the level of readiness is increased, they will be immediately put in such a condition that they can be used“, the commissioner added.
However, the example is quite relative, we believe, because although only in winter, snowplows are used every season. In this regard, Commissioner Kolev hopes „there will be no system in this direction“.
For the purpose of protection, the basements in residential buildings could also be operated, „most of them with reinforced concrete structures, as long as they withstand the respective earthquake levels, should be able to be used as hiding places“, explained Commissioner Stoyan Kolev. According to him, underground parking lots under shopping malls are also suitable for bomb shelters.
