Toxic pesticide spill discovered near Svishtov
Inspectors from the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency uncovered a spill of banned plant-protection chemicals at warehouses belonging to a large agricultural holding in the village of Vardim, near Svishtov. The leak includes yellow liquid with a pesticide odour, identified as containing pendimethalin — a substance toxic to aquatic life with a half-life in soil exceeding 120 days. Over 5,000 square metres of soil and standing water have been contaminated.
Nearby, officials found 54 empty metal barrels marked as liquid fertiliser containing nitrogen and phosphorus, alongside empty drums labelled with pendimethalin. The spill occurred outside unregulated warehouses, beyond the concrete platform, directly into the soil. Authorities fear contamination of drinking water if the chemicals penetrate groundwater.
The company representative attended the inspection but refused to sign the protocol. Multiple agencies — including the National Police, Fire Safety, the Danube Basin Directorate, the Regional Environmental Inspectorate, the Regional Health Inspectorate and the District Prosecutor's Office in Veliko Tarnovo — have been notified. The agency is counting on swift soil and water testing, and police assistance to prevent evidence destruction.
Landslide forces state of emergency in Smolyan
Smolyan mayor Nikolay Melemov declared a state of emergency after a landslide closed the Pamporovo–Smolyan road at Raykovski Livadi. Over 5,000 square metres of earth slid down the slope, obliterating nearly 60 metres of carriageway. Dozens of coniferous trees were dragged down with the soil.
Traffic on the republican road was halted earlier in the day when the surface began to collapse. The area remains unstable, with fresh ground movements observed. Melemov convened directors of all municipal institutions at 8pm to coordinate the response.
Volov-Shumen 2007 host Olimpik on six-match winning streak
FC Volov-Shumen 2007 welcome Olimpik (Varna) at 5pm today at the Tsonyo Vasilev stadium in the 29th round of the Northeast Third League. The home side are in excellent form, having notched six consecutive victories, including last week's 1–0 away win at Dorostol Silistra. At home, they have not lost in eleven matches, recording nine wins.
Good news for manager Ivan Stanchev: midfielder Radoslav Kovachev returns from suspension after accumulated yellow cards. Stanchev said: 'We hope to achieve another success. Everything in the team is normal, training is going well. The advantage is that training does not stop despite bad weather, since the artificial pitch allows it.' Earlier this season, Volov-Shumen beat the debutants 2–1 in Varna.
Three Shumen figures to receive posthumous honours
Shumen municipal council voted to award the title of 'Honorary Citizen of Shumen' posthumously to three local figures: businessman Dimitar Aleksandrov, cardiologist Dr Valentin Petrov and entrepreneur Yuri Tranchev. In a secret ballot of 38 councillors, Aleksandrov and Dr Petrov received 29 votes each, whilst Tranchev secured 28 — all clearing the two-thirds threshold required by statute.
Two further individuals — Yulian Andreev, current mayor of the village of Dibich, and Deyan Evtimov, former director of the Elena Karamihaylova Art Gallery — will receive the 'Golden Badge' honour. All awards will be presented on 11 May, Shumen Day.