Fatal Bulgarian Gas Pipe Blast Caused by High Pressure

A blast at a gas pipeline maintained by Bulgargaz killed two Bulgarian workers and seriously injured another two. File photo

The fatal explosion of the gas pipeline connecting Bulgaria's capital Sofia and the Black Sea city of Burgas was triggered by high pressure which busted the pipes.

The information was reported Sunday by the spokesperson of Bulgaria's Firefighter Services, Georgi Kunev.

The explosion occurred Saturday between the villages of Stryama and Kalekovets, near the second largest city of Plovdiv. Two people died as result of the blast, and two others sustained very serious injuries. The life of one of them, 40, is in danger, according to Darik radio – he has a fracture of the jaw, leg fractures and multiple burns. The other one, 42, has suffered serious burns in the hip area.

Inspectors from Labor Safety are probing the case.

The four workers and five others at the site are from the city of Stara Zagora and were hired by the Bulgartransgaz company to carry out prophylactics of the pipe.

Bulgartransgaz is the maintenance subsidiary of Bulgargaz - the single owner joint-stock company - sole public supplier of natural gas for the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Bulgargaz have declined commenting on the case.

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