A gunpowder charge that may have been ignited by an external factor is currently considered the possible cause of the explosions that destroyed an ammunition warehouse at the EMCO plant near the village of Belitsa in the Tryavna area, according to plant director Slavcho Demiev.
Demiev said the assessment was based on initial accounts from workers at the site. He stressed that spontaneous ignition of a gunpowder charge is considered highly unlikely, meaning investigators will have to establish whether something triggered the initial spark. At the same time, he said there was currently no indication that the incident was deliberate.
The warehouse was completely destroyed in the fire and subsequent explosions. All employees were immediately evacuated, with around 260 people present across the plant's approximately 640-acre site when the incident occurred. Demiev said the evacuation proceeded according to plan and without panic, helping prevent injuries.
The warehouse is in an area with restricted access and is used primarily for storing materials, products and finished goods. Although it is not directly part of the production area, it serves as an operational warehouse because of its proximity to the production facilities, with goods regularly transported in and out.
