Landslide Blocks Off Access to 11 Villages near Smolyan

The largest landslide in Bulgaria blocked the access of the people from 11 villages to Smolyan (South Bulgaria. Tonnes of rock mass fell on the road to Madan and it has been closed for fifth day. Clearing is currently not possible due to the risk of new collapses. The area is forbidden even for walking on foot.

Despite the ban, hundreds of people from the blocked villages are walking along the landslide to get to Smolyan.

The problem is not only for the people who work in Smolyan, but also for school students.

Yavor Govedarov, Mayor of Turun village explains that from 150 to 200 students from the first to the 12th grade travel to go to school, unfortunately even though the road is closed. The road is even closed for pedestrians, but we can not stop them. Parents come in the morning, give a lift to the children to here and then relatives meet them on the other side, he said.

Ralitza Neikova says it is very difficult to travel, and very difficult for the students, it is a long way off, they have to get up earlier. We hope the problem will be sorted soon, she added.

However, it is impossible to clear the landslide at the moment.

Andriyan Petrov, Deputy Regional Governor of Smolyan: At the moment when its clearing starts, a new rock mass slides, there is a problem with a water pipe and there is a power line.

That is why today, at a meeting in the district government, a decision was made to ban the passage through the landslide.

Andrian Petrov the landslide hides unsuspected dangers, preserving people's lives is paramount.

Smolyan Municipality has already begun the construction of a bypass road, but it will be completed in days.