There is currently no evidence that an external factor caused the fire and explosions at an EMCO military plant in the village of Belitsa, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said. The fire is under control, while expert examinations will be used to establish exactly what caused the incident.
Demerdzhiev said a vehicle was present at the site, but authorities have not established that the fire started from it. The warehouse contained different types of ammunition, and investigators will examine the circumstances surrounding the explosions.
The minister said the necessary measures had been taken to establish a safety perimeter and remove all workers from the danger zone. All employees were evacuated safely, with no injuries reported. The area is also being monitored by drones.
The burned structure was an abandoned building, according to Alexander Dzhartov, director of the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection. He said no abnormal levels had been detected in the air and firefighters were working around the outskirts of the village of Radoevo. “There is no danger to the population,” Dzhartov said.
Slavcho Dimiev, director of a separate EMCO production facility in Tryavna, said the warehouse contained gunpowder charges and other ammunition. He also rejected speculation that the incident had been caused by an external impact.
