Your trusted source

At least 10 people have died and several are missing after torrential rain and heavy floods hit eastern Bulgaria, the BBC reported, citing officials.

Floodwaters in the Black Sea port city of Varna surged up to 1m (3.2ft).

Many residents had to be rescued as cars were swept away. Hundreds have been left without electricity or food.

There have been hailstorms and heavy rain in several parts of Bulgaria in recent days. Forecasts say the extreme weather is set to continue.

Forecasters said that the equivalent of a month's worth of rain fell in the regions of Varna and Burgas over the last 24 hours.

"The tragedy is enormous. I am here on a street in the suburb of Aspruhovo. The street is not here, the houses are not here, there are cars on top of each other," Varna mayor Ivan Portnih was quoted by the Reuters new agency as saying.

Fire-fighters in the town of Kilifarevo in central Bulgaria rescued 11 people from the tops of their houses, police said.

Last month nearby Serbia and Bosnia were hit by the worst flooding since modern records began.