site.btaInterior Minister Stoyanov: Fireworks Depot to Be Accessed 24 Hours after Last Explosion

A strong fire is burning in the centre of the depot, Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov told journalists on Friday in the aftermath of explosions in a fireworks depot near Elin Pelin on Thursday.

Explosions resumed at around 5 am on Friday, the Minister said. A warehouse storing two tonnes of TNT equivalent is unaffected by the fire.

Recovery efforts will begin 24 hours after the last explosion, the Minister added.

A Cougar military helicopter has been overflying the area, according to a BTA reporter.

Two vehicles of the anti-organized crime unit are also on site.

Speaking on bTV Nikolai Nikolov, former head of the Chief Directorate for Fire Safety and Population Protection and adviser to the Interior Minister said several drones are used to monitor the situation. 

The helicopter crew will determine whether water can be dumped from the air, which will reduce temperature and prepare the ground for other activities.

Water cannons which can spurt water at 60-80 m will be used, said Nikolov.

Special military equipment will be used to access the site and fire trucks when it is becomes safe.