At least 11 people, including two children, were swept to their deaths after torrential rain led to flash floods in Bulgaria.
Cars ended up in the Black Sea in the resort city of Varna and streets and houses were left underwater after the downpours on Thursday night.
Large parts of the Balkan country were hit by heavy rain and hailstorms which left hundreds of people without electricity and food supplies.
Interior Minister Tsvetlin Yovchev said nine of the victims, including the two children, were from Varna.
Footage showed cars moving in the water through the hillside neighbourhood of Asparuhovo, while other images showed residents frantically attempting to rescue some of those who had been swept away.
Some houses were entirely destroyed in the floods and smashed cars and broken trees littered the area as the waters subsided.
“Thank God I managed to run away, otherwise I would have drowned,” one resident said. “Everyone panicked and started to run.
“Neither I nor my grandfather have seen anything like this before. Everyone is shaking for fear that a new shock wave might come.”
Another two victims were found in the nearby northeastern town of Dobrich, where 150 people had to be evacuated from flooded homes.
Mr Yovchev said: “The situation is beginning to calm down but it is still critical.”
A full assessment of the damage has yet to be carried out and rescue efforts have been hampered by the continuing rainfall.
Navy divers were preparing to search a canal connecting Lake Varna to the Black Sea into which the floodwaters drained, dragging vehicles and other debris.
The worst affected areas of the city have had their electricity supply cut off and the authorities said it was not known when they would be reconnected because of safety concerns.
Local councillor Kostadin Kostadinov the destruction of beech forests overlooking Asparuhovo, illegal construction and poor maintenance of drains for the tragedy.
source-News.Sky
