SCENARIO

LEAD-IN SCENARIO FOR THE NATO EADRCC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FIELD AND COMMAND POST EXERCISE “BULGARIA 2025”

On 6 September 2025 at 06:19 GMT, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake occured in Bulgaria causing severe damage to the Municipality of Montana (140km north of Sofia) and the region. Strong aftershocks have been recorded and are causing chaos. A low pressure area is currently developing over western parts of the region of Montana; it is expected to expand strongly the next two days. Therefore, the national Met Office issued severe weather (heavy rain) warnings through the BG-Alert warning system. The earthquake and its aftershocks caused major floods and landslides in the area. The aftershocks also caused significant damage in the municipalities of Montana, Erden and Dolno Cerovene. About 120,000 people are affected. Numerous buildings have collapsed, including some hospitals in these municipalities. Operational hospitals in the area are working at the limit of their capabilities Urban critical infrastructure (water, gas, electricity and telecommunications) is severely affected. Road transport is restricted in certain zones of the affected area. There are major traffic jams on the (unrestricted) roads, blocking the road network in the affected area, resulting in a heightened risk for serious road accidents with many casualties. The industrial area its critical infrastructure and factories around Montana are also affected: the main chemical plant in the city creates a danger for the population. Another chemical plant, in the industrial zone, has workers buried under the rubble and several others are missing. The earthquake activated a large landslide in the area of the Ogosta dam causing destruction along the coast and lost persons.