2024-07-27 15:31:22
The situation in the municipality of Elin Pelin is under control, the press center of the Municipality confirmed. Yesterday, a warehouse for fireworks and pyrotechnic equipment exploded there. The partial evacuation of the residents of the village of Gara Elin Pelin has also been cancelled, BTA reported.
A partial state of emergency remains in effect in the city and villages of Gara Elin Pelin and Novi Khan.
Evacuated people in the municipality of Elin Pelin can return to their homes, the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Dimitar Kangaljiev, told journalists in the village of Gara Elin Pelin. The electricity in the area will be restored today, he also said and called for patience for those staying in the sports hall in Elin Pelin.
This morning it became clear that one of the two victims of the fire yesterday has died. This was announced by the Acting Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov. Later, it became clear that it was Associate Professor Petar Shishkov. President Rumen Radev expressed his condolences to his family and to the victims of the accident. The meeting of the Metropolitan Municipal Council (SOC) began with a minute’s silence in memory of the man who died as a result of the fire near Elin Pelin. The chairman of SOS Tsvetomir Petrov emphasized that the Metropolitan Municipality provides full support to the municipality of Elin Pelin, which is located only 20 kilometers from Sofia.
Doctors from the “Pirogov” UMBALSM continue to fight for the life of a 20-year-old girl, who was the other victim of the explosion.
We sent six Emergency Response and Prevention teams to assist with surveillance, one equipped with a drone with the thermal camera directing the effort, plus field teams. This was said by the Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev. 11 water tankers were sent to the scene of the fire to assist with the extinguishing work. Our teams were there throughout the night helping to evacuate people, provide food and water, the capital’s mayor added.
There were no registered exceedances of the average hourly norms for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone in the village of Gara Elin Pelin, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) announced. There are no exceedances of the eight-hour norm for carbon dioxide, the data of the mobile laboratory show. The data of the atmospheric air after the fire in the warehouse for fireworks is received every round hour, adds the department.
There is no risk to the health of people in the area of the explosions near Elin Pelin, the Regional Health Inspection (RZI) – Sofia region announced.
Blankets, food and water were provided by the Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC) to the affected population and to the evacuated residents of Elin Pelin, the organization announced. 220 blankets and snacks were provided from the disaster reserve. More than 1,500 bottles of 1.5 liters of mineral water were distributed to those in need and to the specialized teams securing the perimeter and working in the area of the explosions.
At the moment, it is not appropriate to extinguish the fire near Elin Pelin with helicopters with water from the air, because of substances that in contact with water can cause unpleasant consequences, Brigadier General Stanimir Yordanov explained to journalists. When necessary, the helicopters are ready and will start extinguishing from the air again, he specified.
The engineering intelligence module, our engineer-sapper modules and the equipment for combating improvised explosive devices are also ready for action, Acting Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov told journalists in the parliament. The whole operation, according to him, is coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior. We maintain operational coordination with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we are ready, if necessary, to involve other capabilities of the army, but this incident requires specialized teams and modules, he added.
The investigation of the explosions and fire near Elin Pelin was undertaken by the Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office, the prosecutor’s office announced.
A team of the National Investigation Service is ready to start an inspection immediately after the actions of the employees of the General Directorate “Fire Safety and Protection of the Population” are finished, and there is no danger of new explosions.
An inspection has begun this morning at the logistics base of a large chain of grocery stores, where a subsequent fire broke out on Thursday evening.