Robots Probe Perimeter of Bulgaria Military Storage Blast

According to Chief Secretary of the Interior, Kalin Geogiev, the military storage in central Bulgaria where explosions occurred Saturday has about 3 000 152-calliber shells. Photo by Interior Ministry

A robot and auto-pilot aircraft are probing Sunday the munitions warehouses near Bulgaria's central town of Sevlievo where explosions occurred a day earlier.

Measurements of air quality show that all indexes are within the norm and there is no threat of elevated levels of harmful substances.

On Saturday, around 9 am, explosions occurred at former military storage facilities between Sevlievo and the village of Lovnidol. The area was sealed and secured.

According to initial reports, the six warehouses belong to a private, Sofia-based company. They were purchased in 2008 and later renovated. Only one contained munitions.

The facilities are aligned with all norms for safe storage of explosives and munitions, police explain, pointing out there are no radioactive substances inside.

The ban on any vehicle and people traffic in the 2-km area around the warehouses continues to be in effect Sunday.

The explosions sent to Sevlievo Saturday Defense Minister, Anyu Angelov, the Chief Secretary of the Interior, Kalin Georgiev, and the Chief of Firefighter Services, Nikolay Nikolov.

Back in July 2008, a military storage facility at Chelopechene near Sofia exploded, shocking the Bulgarian capital but luckily claiming no lives.

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