Explosions in burning fiireworks warehouse near Elin Pelin continue for more than 13 hours, one person dead

One of the victims of the fireworks warehouse explosions near Elin Pelin has died, caretaker Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov told journalists on July 26.

"Sadly, there has been a fatality after yesterday's fireworks warehouse explosions near Elin Pelin. This is the 49-year-old man, admitted to Pirogov emergency hospital and who had 35% burns but was badly affected because of smoke inhalation," said Kalin Stoyanov.

Fireworks warehouses near Elin Pelin have been burning for 5 hours

The Minister pointed out that doctors are fighting for the life of the 20-year-old daughter of the deceased. She has 85% burns and, according to the opinion of medics, is in a condition "incompatible with life."

According to Stoyanov, there were two other people in the warehouse - a man in his 60s and the owner's son, who is 22.

There is another warehouse with fireworks that did not explode.

"The warehouse, which contains about 2 tonnes of TNT equivalent, was not affected. It is intact and not affected. There is heavy burning in the centre of the complex of warehouse which is still going on," the Minister said.

Bomb squad and military arrived at the scene of the fire in the fireworks warehouses near Elin Pelin

The blasts continue to be monitored by drone.

For the time being, the warehouse remains remote from the active combustion, so a more severe blast is not expected" Stoyanov clarified.

"The situation is subsiding, but according to fellow specialists, the temperature there was over 1,000 degrees," he said.

Kalin Stoyanov reported that this morning the he fire reignited in the food chain's warehouse, which is in the vicinity. The fire brigade said that while they were extinguishing the fire inside, pyrotechnics were falling, which means they were flying into in from about more than 800 metres away.

The security guard continues to be in not in adequate condition after the shock he experienced and says different things each time he is asked again.

"It's going to be a long and difficult investigation," Stoyanov said.

He said that inspection was carried out in the warehouse complex 3 months ago and no irregularities were found.

"The accident occurred after working hours. Only security was supposed to be there. There is information that people have come to the fireworks warehouse to pick up pyrotechnics," he explained.

The Minister criticized the mayor of Elin Pelin, who, according to him, is in Greece and makes inappropriate statements.