Iliyan Mihaylov, Mayor of the northwestern village of Gorni Lom, which was stricken by a deadly explosion at a privately-owned explosives plant, insisted that the factory had to keep functioning due to the staggering unemployment in the area.

In a Friday interview for bTV, Mihaylov noted that human life was important but the village has no choice but to keep the “Midzhur” explosives plant functioning.

The plant was closed on Thursday after an explosion resulted in 15 fatalities and left 3 people injured.

In his Friday interview, Mihaylov predicted new explosions if the factory was reopened, stressing that breakdowns occurred there every 4-5 years.

He said, however, that there was no other option for the people living in Gorni Lom, adding that some 20 residents of the village would end up unemployed.

Mihaylov, as cited by Darik radio, made clear that his wife, who was one of the injured in the accident, would also lose her job.

He explained that she had studied nursing but had been working at the explosives plant for 12 years as she had been unable to find any other job.

He said that employee trainings were running all the time at the plant.

Bulgaria’s Labor Inspectorate closed the explosives plant after 3 explosions in the past 8 years.

October 3 has been declared a day of national mourning for the victims of the blast at the explosives factory near Gorni Lom.