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File photo by dnevnik.bg
A total of 15 workers were hospitalized on Friday after being exposed to an ammonia leak in the BCC Handel dairy plant in Bulgaria's town of Elena, with three of them in a life-threatening condition.
A pipe leading to a refrigeration facility in the plant was hit by a truck early on Friday, causing some 70 liters of ammonia to leak. The workers were transported to a hospital in the nearby city of Veliko Tarnovo. Seven of them were released for home treatment.
Three of the dairy plant's employees have received more serious injuries and are still in peril. A woman has fallen on the ground as a result of the accident receiving a head injury, while a man's hand has been severely burned, which has prompted a surgical intervention. Another man has also been badly injured, dariknews.bg informs.
The three workers will probably remain hospitalized for several weeks, according to hospital officials.
Approximately 100 people work in the BCC Handel dairy plant in Elena, all of whom were evacuated according to the safety procedures.
A measurement of the ammonia levels in Elena has taken place, showing that the town's population is not in danger, local authorities assure.
Bulgaria is seeing an unprecedented rise in the number of work permits issued to non-EU nationals, driven by a growing shortage of domestic labour
More than ten villages in Elena municipality are enduring one of the most severe water restrictions in recent years - households are receiving water only for a single hour, twice a week
Bulgaria is experiencing a surge in both returning Bulgarians and incoming foreign workers
Over 60% of businesses in Bulgaria are open to hiring workers from non-EU countries
More than 50% of workers in Bulgaria’s coal industry are aged 50 or above, a recent skills analysis commissioned by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy has revealed
Between 50,000 and 70,000 foreign workers may enter Bulgaria by the end of 2025 if the current pace of labor import continues
The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology has issued warnings for significant snowfall and icy conditions on Thursday, January 22.
Bulgaria will experience mostly cloudy skies on Wednesday, January 21, according to the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH)
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, weather conditions in Bulgaria will gradually stabilize. The wind will ease and turn from the southeast, while sunshine will dominate most of the day
Bulgaria will face another day of severe winter conditions on Monday, January 19, with persistently low temperatures across the country and hazardous cold prompting a yellow weather warning nationwide.
A sharp cold spell will grip Bulgaria through the end of the current week and into the first days of the next one, with low temperatures and persistent northeasterly winds, according to the medium-range forecast issued by the National Institute of Meteoro
In Bulgaria, cloud cover from the northeast will continue to thicken overnight, while the southwestern half of the country is expected to remain mostly clear with occasional high clouds.
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