Bulgaria Breaks Record with Over 35,000 Work Permits for Non-EU Workers
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
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 weather forecast for Wednesday, January 14, predicts varied conditions across the country, with fog lingering around the Danube and cloudier skies over central and eastern regions.
Bulgaria has been gripped by severe winter conditions in recent days, with polar cold and snowfall turning travel across the country into a serious challenge
Cold conditions will persist across Bulgaria on Tuesday, with morning temperatures dropping further, while daytime values edge up slightly.
A yellow warning for extremely low temperatures will be in force on Monday across all of Northern Bulgaria, as well as in several regions south of the Balkan Mountains. Alongside northern areas, the cold alert also applies to Sofia City, Sofia Region, Kyu
The year 2025 continued Bulgaria’s trend of above-average temperatures, with the country registering an annual mean roughly 1.2°C above long-term climate norms.
Bulgaria is set for a cold and wet weekend on January 10-11, 2026, with widespread cloud cover and precipitation across the country.
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