The Elenite resort, situated on Bulgaria’s southern Black Sea coast, has been hit by a devastating flash flood following torrential rains on October 3, 2025. The deluge overwhelmed infrastructure, swept dozens of vehicles toward the sea, inundated hotels, campsites and homes, and left at least three people dead — including two rescuers — according to authorities.
Rescue teams, including the Bulgarian navy, were deployed to assist evacuation and search operations as roads turned into rivers and water surged through basements and lower levels of buildings. One of the victims was reportedly trapped in a basement when floodwaters broke through. In the chaotic aftermath, cars and caravans were washed into the sea, and parts of the area remain submerged.
Authorities declared a state of emergency for the region and restricted access to the resort to ensure public safety while inspections proceed. Residents were gradually allowed back after safety checks, though access remained controlled due to additional rainfall threats.
In the wake of the disaster, investigations have uncovered major flaws in the resort’s construction. Officials say that portions of the resort, including the Negresco Hotel and an aquapark, are built directly in what had been a dry riverbed, with minimal or missing documentation for essential infrastructure. It appears that water was diverted beneath structures via tunnels in some cases, creating dangerously fragile designs. According to the Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Ivanov, none of the building sites in the “Kozluka” zone have undergone a full environmental assessment in the past 15 years.
Authorities are now reviewing whether certain buildings should be declared illegal constructions given the violations. Planning documents from 1997 to 2008 are under scrutiny, and prosecutors have seized records from municipal and regional institutions. The Ministry’s construction oversight agencies, together with environmental bodies, have been ordered to audit other resorts and check for similar illegal developments in riverbeds across the Black Sea coast.
Meanwhile, cleanup is underway. Firefighters and disaster units are removing rubble, mud, and stranded vehicles, clearing pathways, and safeguarding evacuated properties from looting. Satellite and drone surveys are being used, in collaboration with Sofia University and the Academy of Sciences, to map the topography and document flood damage.
The Bulgarian government has also pledged financial aid to affected households. The initial compensation includes 1,914 leva per family, with proposals for an additional 3,000 leva to help replace damaged appliances and cover other losses. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has ordered ministries to report on disaster preparedness and has called for better coordination ahead of pending heavy rainfall.
As the resort cautiously reopens, many in Elenite are questioning the safety of coastal development practices. The flooding disaster has exposed how inadequate planning, regulatory failures, and construction in vulnerable zones can turn once-idyllic resorts into disaster zones in the face of extreme weather.
