Velingrad residents protested against installation of a 5G antenna

Residents of Velingrad (Southern Bulgaria) on December 15 protested against the installation of a 5G network antenna by a mobile operator. They said they were worried about their health and demanded a halt to the activities. The protesters also demanded the immediate intervention of the municipality.

For years, a building of the former "diet canteen" in Velingrad has been crumbling, and today it has become a gathering place for drug addicts. However, the construction of a base station of a mobile operator has started there. This has brought the citizens of Velingrad to protest, over fears about their health.

Here is what they say:

"These antennas have very harmful electromagnetic emissions with certain frequencies that will affect our health, our children, all the people in the area."

"We disagree with the placement of such antennas that may harm the health of our children, animals, plants and everything around us."

Protesters said the ladders installed on the facility pose a danger to their children.

Although the building is owned by the Ministry of Health, the protesters requested the assistance of the municipality. They expressed their concerns.

"The building is derelict, the stairs are not secured. You see here, there are playgrounds nearby, children are playing and you don't know if some child may decide to climb up there, on the high ground. Personally, this worries me," said Kostadin Koev - mayor of Velingrad.

After the protest a working group was formed. The group has already addressed the Ministry of Health and regional office of the National Construction Control Directorate about people's concerns and the state of the building.

BNT also sent a request to the Ministry regarding the management of the building and the contract with the mobile operator, but so far we have no response from the Ministry.