Dozens of sacks of red pepper have washed up on Listi beach near Sinemorets. Tsarevo mayor Marin Kirov said the town council and the State Forestry Authority will clear the beach as soon as a permit is issued.

Kirov said cleaning up is normally the state's job, but the council will help.

Experts from the Regional Environmental Inspectorate (RIOSV) in Burgas took sea water samples in the area yesterday. Officials have not confirmed where the sacks came from, and it is not known whether they were part of the cargo of the container ship that sank off Shabla.

Three containers have been seen near Tsarevo and Sinemorets. The first washed up on November 2 in Dinyov Gyol bay, next to Arapya campsite near Tsarevo. The ship's manifest lists Christmas decorations for that container.

A tank container was found later in the Korabite area near Sinemorets. Burgas regional governor Diko Dikov said it is empty. The third container was drifting out at sea, also off Sinemorets.

The navy has inspected the containers. Towing them away is risky because of rough seas and shallow water near the shore, so officials are discussing how to remove them safely.