Piles of garbage were seen floating on the Iskar River near a hydroelectric plant in Svoge, Bulgaria, January 14, 2021. /VCG

An aerial view shows a blanket of trash, including plastic bottles and bags, covering the river in Svoge, Bulgaria, January 14, 2021. /VCG

The horrifying sight came after heavy rains triggered floods, causing rivers to swell across the country. /VCG

"It[the garbage] has always been in the river," representatives of the hydropower plant told a local media outlet as residents questioned whether the plant is responsible for the distressing situation. /VCG