site.btaUPDATED Explosions in Burning Fireworks Depot Continue for Over 12 Hours, One Casualty

Explosions in a burning fireworks depot near Elin Pelin have continued for over 12 hours. An alert for the fire was placed at around 6.30 pm on Thursday.

Since then, there has been a heavy police presence in the area. Over ten fire and water trucks are at the site. A perimeter has been secured around the depot, where members of the public are not allowed. There are servicemen on site too.

The area was surveilled by police drones every hour into the night to Friday.

Some of the residents of the village of Gara Elin Pelin spent the night in their cars and others with relatives. 

After the alert was placed, two ambulances were sent. A father and a daughter, who were badly injured, were transported to the Pirogov emergency hospital. The exact number of the victims is unknown, as information is contradictory, Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov told journalists on Thursday evening.

Minister Stoyanov told journalists on Friday that a 49-year-old man has died and that the doctors are fighting for the life of his daughter. 

Stoyanov said that there is information that there are two persons inside the depot. 

A warehouse with around two tonnes of TNT equivalent has not been affected by the fire, said Stoyanov.