“Today Bulgaria” recalls: 1928 – the events that destroyed Southern Bulgaria

Three strong earthquakes rocked Bulgaria in the period April 14-25, 1928., recalls BTA.

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A huge part of southern Bulgaria is completely destroyed. The series of tremors were registered in the Marishka seismic zone. In total, more than 100 people died in the three earthquakes, more than 1,000 were injured, dozens were left without shelter. More than 70,000 buildings were damaged.

Disaster struck Chirpan first on April 14. At 11:20 a.m., an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale, the so-called Chirpan earthquake, was recorded. The epicenter is 8 km northwest of the city. The day is Holy Saturday before Easter. The earthquake was followed by two other strong earthquakes – on the evening of April 18 with a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale and with an epicenter near Popovitsa, Plovdiv region, and on April 25 – with a magnitude of 5.6 on the Richter scale and with an epicenter near Galabovo. The last tremor is also known as the Staro Zagora earthquake.

After the second earthquake – on April 18, which was the strongest, the most affected were the settlements in Sadovo Municipality – Sadovo and Popovo. Railway lines were deformed, the flow rate of wells and springs was changed, the Merichler mineral spring disappeared for a while.

On April 24 and 25, 1928, the National Assembly passed the Law on Assistance to the Victims of the Earthquake. By a decree of the Council of Ministers of April 26, 1928, 100 million BGN were allocated to repair the damage. By decision of the National Assembly, the Directorate for Assistance and Reconstruction of the 1928 Earthquake Region (DIPOZE) was established with the task of carrying out a scientific survey of earthquakes.