Between April 14 and 25, 1928, Bulgaria was shaken by three strong earthquakes, which destroyed a large part of Southern Bulgaria. The series of earthquakes were in the Maritsa seismic zone. In total, over 100 people died in the three earthquakes, over 1,000 were injured, dozens were left without shelter. More than 70,000 buildings were damaged, BTA recalls.
The disaster begins on April 14. In the Chirpan region, at 11:20 a.m., an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale was registered, the so-called Chirpan earthquake. The epicenter is 8 km northwest of the city. The day is Holy Saturday before Easter. The earthquake was followed by two other strong tremors - on the evening of April 18 with a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale and an epicenter near Popovitsa, Plovdiv region, and on April 25 - with a magnitude of 5.6 on the Richter scale and an epicenter near the town of Galabovo. The last tremor is also known as the Stara Zagora earthquake.
After the second tremor - on April 18, which was the strongest, the settlements in the Sadovo municipality - Sadovo and Popovo - were most affected. Railway lines were deformed, the flow rate of wells and springs was changed, and the Merichler mineral spring disappeared for a while.
On April 24 and 25, 1928, the National Assembly adopted a Law on Assistance to Earthquake Victims. By a decree of the Council of Ministers of April 26, 1928 100 million leva have been allocated for damage restoration. By a decision of the National Assembly, the Directorate for Assistance and Restoration of the 1928 Earthquake Area (DIPOZE) was established with the task of conducting a scientific investigation of the earthquakes.