A series of explosions tore through an EMCO Ltd munitions factory near Tryavna, central Bulgaria, on Monday after a truck caught fire while refuelling tanks, triggering blasts in ammunition warehouses. No deaths or injuries were reported, Tryavna Mayor Dencho Minev said.
Approximately 300 workers and nearby residents were evacuated as the fire spread roughly three kilometres from the plant into surrounding forest. Five firefighting and gendarmerie units were deployed, and the Gabrovo regional governor activated the BG-ALERT warning system. Authorities advised residents of Tryavna and neighbouring villages to keep windows closed and wear respiratory protection outdoors.
The initial blaze at the facility has been extinguished, though a full forensic inspection by pyrotechnical and police units must wait 24 hours for any further detonations. The plant, owned by arms dealer Emilian Gebrev, has experienced multiple explosions in recent years. In January 2024, Bulgarian investigators issued European arrest warrants for six Russian nationals linked to earlier blasts at ammunition sites between 2011 and 2020.