A series of explosions rocked the ammunition production plant in the village of Belitsa. The factory, which has been supplying munitions to Ukraine since 2014, is currently under control of firefighters, and authorities assure there is no danger to surrounding settlements.
A series of explosions occurred on Monday at the EMCO ammunition factory in the village of Belitsa, in the Bulgarian municipality of Tryavna. The incident began with a fire on a truck, which was followed by detonations in parts of the warehouse, confirmed local officials and the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior for NOVA television.
Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev stated that the explosion occurred in one of the workshops and that all measures are being taken to contain the fire and prevent its spread to other facilities. Demerdzhiev added that the cause of the incident is most likely internal. According to initial information, no one was injured, and about 300 workers were evacuated from the plant.
The Mayor of Tryavna, Dencho Minev, informed the public via Facebook about the activation of the national warning system BG-ALERT. He urged people to close their windows, use protective masks, and stay indoors due to gas leakage and air pollution. Teams from the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water Resources from Veliko Tarnovo were dispatched to the scene to measure air quality.
"I am informing all residents of Tryavna municipality that due to the ignition of a truck, explosions occurred in part of the warehouse of the ammunition factory in the village of Belitsa. The national danger warning system BG-ALERT will be activated. Due to gas leakage and air pollution, we urge people to close the windows in their homes, use protective masks, and stay indoors," wrote Minev.
The Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo, Daniel Panov, discussed the situation with Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov. After consultations, he assured the public that the settlement of Voneshta Voda near Veliko Tarnovo is not at risk. "It is considered that the state has taken the necessary measures and established an organization of work," Panov told NOVA.
The EMCO factory produces artillery shells of 120 to 152 mm caliber, tank ammunition, firearms, cartridges, and mines. According to Russian military blogger Voenkor Kotenok, the company has been supplying weapons to Ukraine since 2014.
The explosions at EMCO come just two days after Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced on August 8, 2026, that a drone that had flown in from Romania exploded on the country's territory. The incident occurred about a kilometer away from the compressor station of the Trans-Balkan pipeline. The Ministry of Defense then stated that it was most likely a Ukrainian decoy drone, while the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that if it is confirmed that the aircraft was Ukrainian, it was not an intentional act and expressed readiness to cooperate with Sofia.
