The Bulgarian authorities have evacuated the residents of the village of Vlahi in southwestern Bulgaria because of the fire, which keeps raging in the Kresna gorge for the fifth day now. The evacuation of the population in Vlahi began at 2 pm, regional governor Bisser Mihaylov announced.

The southern front of the fire near the town of Kresna continues burning. A state of emergency has been declared in the municipality. The strong wind has been making the situation complicated, experts reported. There are hundreds of firefighters, military, forest officials and volunteers combating the flames.

Interior Minister Valentin Radev called for avoiding speculation on the amount of damage until a thorough check was made. President Rumen Radev, the Bulgarian Prime Minister and the President of the National Assembly have informed about the fire situation, as they are all concerned that the fire has been going on for too long.

The Prosecution continues with the interrogation of witnesses in order to find out how the fire started, the Interior Minister added.