A fire broke out in a fireworks warehouse complex between the town of Elin Pelin and the village of Gara Elin Pelin near Sofia, the BTA news agency reported. There was a series of explosions in the warehouses. The alert for the burning warehouses was sent at 6.30pm on Thursday.

An immediate evacuation has been ordered for the residents of the village of Elin Pelin, which is closest to the incident site.  The gas supply has been stopped, as well as the electricity. There is an increased police presence, ambulances and fire brigades in the area, as well as a mobile station to measure the purity of the air.

Two people - a father and his daughter - were seriously injured with third-degree burns and their condition is life-threatening. A partial state of disaster has been declared in the town and surrounding villages. There is an increased police, ambulance and fire brigade presence in the area, as well as a mobile station to measure air quality. 

Troops with four water carriers from the Mobile Communication Station (MCC) - Gorna Malina and troops with two water carriers from the Negushevo formation of the Logistic Support Command were sent to the scene. A specialised module for industrial accidents is also being prepared by the Land Forces military formation in Musachevo. The formation has five auto spill stations that will be used, the Defence Ministry said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev visited the scene of the fire. He said that the situation was under control and that there was no reason to panic. Glavchev added that an army armoured vehicle had also been sent to penetrate further into the fire area.

On the other hand, caretaker Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov, who also visited the scene with Interior Ministry Secretary-General Dimitar Kangaldzhiev, said that the situation was difficult. There is at least one person somewhere in the complex of warehouses. He is the 22-year-old son of the owner, Stoyanov said.