Bankya Explosion Aftermath: One Dead, One Still Missing, and Questions Over Gas Safety
One man remains missing following an explosion in a house in Bankya on Friday
Shortly after 10:30 a.m., under the direction of the District Prosecutor's Office - Sofia, investigators from the National Investigation Service and the District Investigation Service, along with fire department teams and specialized units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, began an inspection of the warehouses near Elin Pelin, reports BNT. These warehouses experienced uncontrollable pyrotechnic explosions and a subsequent fire on Thursday evening.
Two severely burned bodies, believed to be those of the men known to have been in the warehouses at the time of the incident, were found at the scene. Efforts to identify them are ongoing, according to the Prosecutor's Office, as reported by BNT.
This brings the death toll from the accident near Elin Pelin to four.
The inspection of the scene is expected to continue throughout the day, with the prosecution, the investigation, and the Ministry of the Interior set to provide further details later today.
Earlier today, Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov updated the public on the explosion at the fireworks warehouse in Elin Pelin, confirming three fatalities and one person missing, presumed to be in the explosion's epicenter. The latest victim was found near the warehouse entrance, and the body's condition prevented immediate identification.
The blast's magnitude caused substantial destruction, with thick walls and concrete slabs thrown several meters. The situation remains complex, and the investigation is ongoing, with the counter-terrorism squad securing the site using thermal panels and fire-resistant foams.
Witnesses included a security guard who helped rescue two individuals and a boy who escaped the fire. Stoyanov criticized the boy's parents for not promptly informing authorities, complicating survivor tracking.
The warehouse owner is cooperating fully, and evacuation of nearby residents was necessary due to potential further explosions. All causes are being considered, and the investigation will scrutinize the warehouse's off-hours activities, with a thorough probe by the prosecutor's office expected.
A mother and her two children were injured in a tragic accident in Ruse on Thursday afternoon
A significant accident has disrupted heating and hot water in nine Sofia neighborhoods, leaving residents without essential services
A tragic incident occurred in Sofia on Wednesday morning when a woman was struck by a truck and died instantly
A protective antenna will be installed on the building of the Ministry of Transport to monitor drone activity in real time
A drone spotted near Sofia Airport caused flight delays last night, the airport’s press center confirmed, as reported by BTA.
A person was killed in a shooting in Brussels on Friday, believed to be connected to clashes between rival drug gangs, the local prosecutor’s office reported, citing Reuters.
Bulgaria's Perperikon: A European Counterpart to Peru's Machu Picchu
Bulgarians Among EU's Least Frequent Vacationers, Struggling with Affordability