Israel offers aid to flood-ridden Bulgaria

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on Wednesday night and offered to send any needed help to his inundated country.

According to Israel Radio, Israel offered to send medical and engineering crews, as well as special search and rescue teams, to the Eastern European country.

Borisov told Bulgarian based FOCUS news that he was “immensely grateful,” following the conversation with his Israeli counterpart. “Netanyahu declared the preparedness of the Israeli state to render assistance,” he added.

The southern parts of Bulgaria have been hit by harsh floods this week, leaving villages submerged and hundreds of people homeless. On Tuesday Bulgaria announced a day of mourning after the death of eight people in the floods.

Israel has sent first-response teams to various disaster zones over the years, and was one of the first countries to send help after an earthquake and tsunami hit Japan last March.