A fatal elevator collapse at a block of flats in Sofia, which left one dead and one seriously injured, was attributed to the poor quality of repair works.

Stefan Tsankov, Chair of the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision, told the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) that the poor quality of repairs conducted by the Vitosha Lift company three years ago were to blame for the accident.

Tsankov said that the watchdog would examine the paperwork on the repairs and inspect whether the supervising company and the maintenance company had done their job properly.

He informed that the company tasked with supervising the facility, NB Lift Control, had not detected any problems during the latest check on February 18 despite reports of witnesses that the facility had been in poor condition.

He noted that the company which was in charge of the technical supervision of the elevator had been issued a number of protocols for irregularities, as well as 15 penalty notices, including over lack of staff to take care of 12 000 lifts.

The collapse of the elevator from the 9th floor of the block of flats left one woman dead and one woman seriously injured.

The accident occurred at 9 am on Tuesday in a 12-story block of flats on the Tsarigradsko Shosse Blulevard in Sofia.

The two women boarded the elevator downwards on the ninth floor but it plummeted to the basement.

46-year-old Tsvetelina Radulcheva, who was on her way to work, died on the spot.

41-year-old Maria Ignatova was taken to hospital in critical condition, with ruptures of the liver, spleen, stomach, intestines, and urinary bladder, ankle and rib fractures and a combined maxillocerebral trauma.

Doctors said that the blood loss had been brought under control and her condition had been stabilized but she would have to undergo at least 4 operations.

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