Turkish authorities blame Bulgaria for failing to take measures in its reservoirs after the country's floodgates opened following torrential rains that inundated the neighboring Turkish province of Edirne

Turkey is at odds with Bulgaria after floodwaters from neighboring Bulgaria engulfed the country's northwestern border province of Edirne. Authorities told reporters that three rivers in the province broke their banks as water levels suddenly increased in the wake of the opening of reservoir floodgates in Bulgaria after last week's heavy rainfall.

Floodgates in Bulgarian dams have frequently caused problems for Edirne, situated right next to the Balkan country, but this time, Turkey has adopted harsh rhetoric against the neighboring country.

Veysel Eroğlu, Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs told reporters that they have warned Bulgarian officials "innumerable times" against floods. "They built dams but they failed to allocate a flood volume unfortunately," he said, referring to the extra space built in dam reservoirs to allow storage of more water than anticipated. Eroğlu said that the patience of people in Edirne has "run out." "(Locals) told me that they would file lawsuits against Bulgaria for causing the floods. I think this is an appropriate action," he said. Eroğlu mentioned the Tunca Project with Bulgaria, named after the Tunca (Tundzha) river which runs through Bulgaria to Turkey. "It was a project to improve our friendship. We signed protocols and drafted an agreement. Unfortunately, Bulgaria did not take steps to finalize it," he said. The minister was referring to a joint dam construction project on the river that will hold water in peak season for torrential rains and contribute to the irrigation of some 15,000 hectares of lands in Turkey and Bulgaria. The two countries had reached an agreement in 2006 for the construction scheduled to start in 2009 but the project was never realized, as Sofia remained reluctant to contribute to the project. Experts attribute the reluctance to a "lack of benefits" for Bulgaria, as the dam will be in Turkish territories and the reservoir in Bulgaria. According to experts, the operation of dams by the private sector in Bulgaria is among the main causes of flooding. They claim private-run hydro-electric power plants, seeking to boost energy production, keep water levels at the maximum throughout the year in their reservoirs, blocking the flow of excess water that eventually forces them to open the floodgates in the case of torrential rains.

Currently, an early warning system is active in Bulgaria that warns Turkey about the rise in water levels but it is only helpful in preventing flood-related casualties.

Edirne Governor Dursun Ali Şahin says the floods that left about 5,000 people trapped in Karaağaç district "may be repeated" if Bulgaria opens the floodgates again in the coming days. Şahin said that the water level in rivers has decreased to 1,576 cubic meters per hour from 2,246 cubic meters over the past two days, adding that it is "a good development."

People were evacuated from flooded houses by rescue crews, and Şahin said some 500 houses were affected by floodwaters, with their residents returning home yesterday after spending two nights at schools and sports halls in the province.

The governor said Bulgarian dams posed a great risk for Turkey. "We should take our own measures and be cautious against the rise in water levels in rivers," he said. Although water levels declined, Şahin said some roads will remained closed until Monday, and search and rescue crews will be on the alert at least until next week against a repeat of flooding.