The disaster begins on April 14. The first earthquake was recorded at 11:20 a.m. on April 14, 1928, with an epicenter about 8 km northwest of Chirpan and a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale. After him, almost all the buildings in Chirpan and Borisovgrad (today’s Parvomai) were destroyed.
On April 18 in question, at 9:20 p.m. in the evening, another strong earthquake followed with a similar magnitude (7.0 on the Richter scale) and an epicenter near Popovitsa. Then one third of Plovdiv was destroyed.
After the earthquakes, many people live and sleep outdoors – in tents made of rugs. On Saturday around noon when the first tremor struck, many people were out of their homes and children were generally on spring break. This fact saves hundreds of human lives.
The military club in Plovdiv was destroyed, then repaired, but the building did not reach its original pomp with the tall towers. The building in which the District Assembly of Eastern Rumelia was sitting was seriously damaged by the earthquake and was destroyed in 1930. The church “Sveta Nedelya” was badly damaged and was completely renovated in 1930.
The state reacted quickly and adequately to the situation, with even Tsar Boris III personally visiting the destroyed settlements and staying in Plovdiv, engaging in organizing first aid for the victims. The National Assembly established the Directorate for Assistance and Reconstruction in the Earthquake Region, the purpose of which is also the scientific survey of earthquakes. It finances the construction of public buildings and supports the affected population.
The state allocates BGN 100 million to repair the damage. Within three years, the directorate managed to almost completely repair the damage caused by the destruction. About BGN 880 million, which Bulgaria receives from the League of Nations, also helps with this.
Here are the reactions in the world to the earthquakes that happened in our country in its bulletin “Review of the foreign press”, taken out by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency:
Dutch print
“Alkh. Hanselsvlad” /April 25, 1928/ writes: A terrible misfortune has struck Bulgaria. A catastrophic earthquake has reached the former Eastern Rumelia. Great destruction has been caused in the old capital of this province and in the surrounding area.
It is not yet possible to form a clear idea of the extent of the calamity, but the information obtained about the situation of the affected areas already shows that the Bulgarian people and the government will be faced with a great difficulty in order to relieve the worst suffering and to overcome and prevent worse consequences than the terrible blow which nature inflicts on the country, which was already languishing under the overwhelming burdens left to it by the wars, which the industrious country people struggled to overcome with rare energy. (…) And in other European countries, it should not be overlooked that the need and misery caused by the earthquake in the richest areas of the country are capable of having political consequences for the Balkans.
The past shows that in these areas the refugees and the homeless become easy prey for agitators who, by thwarting the appeasement and pacification of the Balkans, try to achieve their political goals.
That is why, and for the peace of the Balkans, it is of great importance not to deny the Bulgarian government support and assistance in the difficult task that lies ahead of it – relief of the greatest need of the population and restoration of the enormous losses caused by the natural disaster, losses which are increasing daily as the tremors have not yet ceased.
English print
“Manchester Guardian” /April 25, 1928/ in an introductory place writes: Whatever their cause, the Balkan earthquakes differ in number and strength from those to which Europe is accustomed. Of course, everyone is inclined to count their own catastrophes bigger, but even so, the pictures of the Plovdiv disaster are reminiscent of destruction, such as those that Japan suffered…
H. V. Tsaryat about the earthquake
“Times” / April 26, 1928 / in correspondence from Sofia wrote: Tsar Boris spent the last five days among the inhabitants of the region devastated by (…) earthquakes, ascertaining the extent of the catastrophe and taking an active part in the organization of relief measures. In a conversation with (…) correspondent, the Tsar conveyed his impressions of his tour amid these scenes of ruins and devastation. He took nearly 700 km by car, visited all the places affected by the earthquakes and was struck by the magnitude of the disaster in southern Bulgaria .
The situation of Plovdiv is more serious than that of Chirpan and Borisovgrad and the earthquake is the strongest of all known in Bulgaria. In Papazli (now the village of Popovica – note ed.) a train (train – note ed.) that was passing at the time of the earthquake miraculously escaped an accident, as it had just passed the bridge over Maritsa, before the last one sank 80 cm as a result of the earthquake… There were many other lucky escapes. The number of victims, although large, is small compared to the material damage, which is now officially estimated at 3,100,000 lire.
However, His Majesty fears that the death toll will rise later. This troubled me the most, said Tsar Boris, because I saw the population living among the ruins, without shelter or food, and therefore exposed to the greatest dangers under the rain that has been falling for several days.
I have found many sick in the towns and villages, and in this connection I cannot but acknowledge the wisdom of the decision taken by the Italian Red Cross, which, in its efforts to help us, has begun by sending the tents which are so necessary to preserve the health of the survivors. We need to organize relief services quickly, he added, and I have already spoken at length with my Prime Minister, because the rains will finish the work of the earthquakes and further destroy the remaining houses, especially in the villages where they are usually built of adobe.
In addition, the rain will ruin the grain stocks left in the affected area. The government and existing organizations will do their best to alleviate the suffering of the population, but the magnitude of the disaster is such that the country’s resources alone will not be sufficient. Therefore, we welcome with feelings of deepest gratitude the help that is sent to us from abroad.
The Romanian seal
The misfortune in Bulgaria
“Nyamul Romanesk” /April 29, 1928/ places the following article by Professor Iorga in an introductory place: A large area of Bulgaria was the victim of one of the most terrible earthquakes that South-East Europe has remembered. Perhaps only that, similar to that which destroyed the walls of Gallipoli, and permitted the settlement of the Turks in that city 600 years ago. Three cities or towns are now destroyed, and tens of thousands of people know not where to find safety and shelter. This great misfortune has awakened a feeling of pity everywhere.
From the Slavic countries, such as Yugoslavia and Poland, came comforting words, money in aid. (…) The time has come for us to think about our moral duty. Whatever happened between neighbors, they remain neighbors with whom we associate so many memories and so many interests. And an entire population often has nothing to do with the policies of one or more governments. Anyway, we have to help with money or bread. The Red Cross and the government have the first say.
Italian stamp
Italian aid
“Giornale D’Italia” /Rome, May 1, 1928/ writes: The head of the government ordered that the sum of one million lire be granted for the benefit of the victims of the earthquake in Bulgaria, also such a sum for the benefit of the victims in Greece. Immediately after receiving the telegraphic information from Bulgaria and Greece about the earthquakes that occurred there, the head of the government immediately ordered the presidency of the Italian Red Cross to send materials and personnel to the two countries so badly affected.
As a result, an agreement was reached by telegraph with the chairmanship of the Bulgarian Red Cross on April 20 of this year. a mission of the Italian Red Cross under the leadership of Captain Villa, left Milan for Bulgaria, taking with them a large field hospital with 100 beds… Numerous tents-pavilions and huge quantities of canvas, woolen tablecloths, kitchens, cooking utensils, etc. . completed the first shipment that arrived in Sofia on April 23. On April 24, sanitary materials and many food supplies, canned meat, breadcrumbs, rice, etc. were sent to Bulgaria from Rome and Milan for distribution to the population of the affected area.
The center of the Italian mission is in Borisovgrad. From there, aid is sent to Plovdiv, where many of our compatriots are known to be, and to S. Zagora and Haskovo…
English print
The Bulgarian earthquake
The “Manchester Guardian” /May 1, 1928/ prints the following letter from Hilda Clark under the above heading: Returning last evening from Bulgaria, I notice that the English papers seem to have given much less publicity to the facts of the terrible results of the earthquake there than to the misfortune in Greece. It is natural that more attention will be paid to the country which is better known to the English people, but I am sure that if the extent of the catastrophe in Bulgaria were understood, there would be sympathy in a practical sense form for the victims. (…)
I spent the night when the second strong earthquake occurred in a small town near Plovdiv. Indeed, we were outside the central area and no houses were destroyed, but the shocks were loud and alarming with their frequent repetition. The entire sky was illuminated by the fires of Plovdiv. I cannot describe the courage and cheerfulness of the population, the kindness of the people to one another, and their wonderful behavior. The next day we heard the same about those whose trial was greater. Immediately in the morning, relief teams, including doctors, were organized and sent in trucks to the towns that had been hit.
The telephone operators stood bravely at their posts in the buildings, which could at any moment collapse upon them to give the information necessary to direct help, and there was no lack of volunteers ready to go to the most dangerous places. Our first thought on this strange night outside was of the good fortune of having good weather. Alas!
It didn’t last long and it rained heavily for thirty hours straight and then it started again. There are few tents in the country. Boards were hastily collected for the construction of shacks, but as the tremors continued, even the houses that were not destroyed could not serve, and there must have been 150,000 people without shelter. There will certainly be more death from standing in the open than from falling houses if help is not quickly sent.
I heard many expressions of gratitude for the money which came immediately from the American Red Cross, from Yugoslavia and from Italy, from the Save the Children Fund and from the Society of Friends in England; but for a disaster of this scale – much more is needed. (…) The Bulgarians themselves set to work immediately to collect money in Sofia and find materials for the barracks. The small army and the police are used as much as possible, assisted by the people who in Bulgaria by law have to do compulsory labor.
A scout troop left immediately with their kitchen to cook meals for the poor in a town. The representatives of the “Save the Children” fund – a woman with great experience in the organization of aid, takes care of children in other cities, according to the aid. If your readers respond to the appeal, I am confident that it will save hundreds of lives. Bulgaria was in great economic difficulties due to the care of accommodating a large number of refugees, and the reparations payments were a heavy burden on her. (…)
Her people do everything to help themselves and do not sit around crying for help or pity; but the earthquake has destroyed valuable factories and damaged the crops in its most fertile districts, and the prospects for the future are almost as bad as the condition of the homeless people of the rain, if exhaustion.
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