Second flight of the government aircraft on its way to evacuate Bulgarians from Lebanon

A second flight left for Beirut to evacuate the Bulgarians from Lebanon. The government plane is expected to land there at about 3 pm Bulgarian time on October 1.

A total of 89 Bulgarians, including families with children and elderly people, were evacuated on yesterday’s flight from Beirut on a government Airbus aircraft. They arrived yesterday evening, September 30 and were welcomed at the government terminal at Sofia Airport by caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, Minister of Transport and Communications Krassimira Stoyanova and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Elena Shekerletova.

According to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, there are about 400 Bulgarian citizens in Lebanon, but only 160 some of them had asked to be evacuated.

Speaking to reporters earlier today, Caretaker Prime Minister, Dimitart Glavchev said that this morning 61 Bulgarians had asked to be evacuated on the second trip.

He added that if the seats on the plane were not filled, the remaining unoccupied ones will be offered to EU member states.

"According to the latest information there were 61 people, we hope that by noon the plane will be filled, if not - we will offer seats to EU citizens," Dimitar Glavchev said.

"At any moment, however, others may ask. We are monitoring the situation and responding appropriately. I thank the Bulgrian and the partner services that helped make yesterday's flight possible," Glavchev said.