After the past few days, during which the level of the river crossing the City of the Seven Hills has risen significantly—submerging all islands and green patches of land—we decided to look back at the past, when it has repeatedly overflowed its banks and caused extensive damage.
Historical records of floods in Plovdiv date back as early as the 16th century. At that time, the river swept away everything in its path from Pazardzhik to Edirne. In 1704, a chronicler noted that the waters “laid Plovdiv to waste,” with only the houses on the Three Hills remaining untouched.
One of the earliest major disasters occurred in August 1858, when the waters reached almost as far as Dzhumaya Square. Around today’s Levski House, the water level rose to a person’s neck, and more than 1,700 homes were destroyed. People fled toward the hills, seeking refuge from the surging river.
In the years that followed, the Maritsa River periodically reminded the city of its power—in 1895, 1897, 1906, 1911, 1923, 1940, and 1943. Floodwaters inundated neighborhoods such as Karshiyaka and Marasha, reached Filipovo railway station, and even flooded Kapana. However, the most devastating blow came on June 26, 1957. The only surviving document from this flood is a report by Mayor Nikola Balkandzhiev, detailing the full extent of the disaster.
At that time, the Maritsa turned into a veritable wall of water. The embankment near the Sugar Factory gave way, the old bridge was clogged with uprooted trees, and the river overflowed on both sides. The area around the Pulpudeva factory (the former tannery) was flooded, Karshiyaka was submerged up to Filipovo station, and the water column reached four meters. Soon after, Marasha turned into a lake, while in Stolipinovo, the makeshift houses collapsed one after another.
Boats began moving through the city streets. Soldiers and volunteers rescued people trapped by the rising waters. The flood lasted nearly 18 hours, but its consequences were felt far longer.
More than 4,000 decares of land were submerged, 3,500 homes were flooded, and over 770 were completely destroyed. More than 10,500 people were left homeless. Entire neighborhoods were left without electricity and water, train services to Sofia were suspended, and the roads to Karlovo, Haskovo, and Smolyan were closed. The wooden bridge near the Fairgrounds was swept away, the sewage system was destroyed, and in many places, the cobblestone streets simply disappeared beneath the water.
Rescue operations began on the very night of the disaster. Boats from the DOSO rowing club were among the first to reach those affected. Militia officers went through neighborhoods to wake residents, while schools and tobacco warehouses were turned into temporary shelters.
In just one day, around 7,000 people found refuge—amid severe shortages and a housing crisis. The only thing that lagged behind was information—the press began reporting on the disaster only days later.
After that June, the banks of the Maritsa were reinforced and the embankments raised. The river was partially tamed, and its waters were redirected toward reservoirs.
To this day, this remains the last major flood of the Maritsa River, when it overflowed its banks and caused widespread damage.
Тhere are no comments yet.