Bulgaria’s Belitsa Arms Plant Hit by Explosion, Fire; Evacuations Underway

Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev confirmed that an explosion and fire occurred on Monday at the ammunition plant in the village of Belitsa, located in central Bulgaria. Authorities have initiated precautionary evacuations of nearby residential centers.

Initial reports and emergency response

Earlier on the same day, Dinko Minev, mayor of the neighboring municipality of Tryavna, reported explosions in part of the Belitsa plant’s storage facilities following a fire that broke out in a truck. Minev stated no fatalities or injuries had been reported.

According to Demerdzhiev, five fire engines and gendarmerie units are deployed at the site. All workers at the facility have been evacuated.

Investigation and cause assessment

Demerdzhiev said an investigation into the incident’s causes is underway and indicated those causes are likely “internal.”

The plant’s director, speaking to Bulgaria’s National Radio, stated the explosion resulted from an accident—not sabotage.

Ownership and historical context

The Belitsa plant is part of EMKO, a weapons and machinery manufacturing company owned by businessman Emilian Gebriv. Four explosions at arms factories in Bulgaria over the past decade have involved EMKO facilities.