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Bulgaria explosives factory blast leaves 15 missing Bulgaria explosives factory blast kills 15
(about 4 hours later)
As many as 15 people are feared dead after a blast devastated an explosives factory north of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. A blast at an explosives factory north of the Bulgarian capital Sofia has killed 15 people, prompting the government to declare Friday a day of national mourning.
"There are no signs of life at the site of the explosion," civil defence force head Nikolay Nikolov said. Thirteen men and two women were killed, and three other women employees hurt, at the factory near Gorni Lom.
Three women employees who had been near the factory at Gorni Lom at the time were hurt and treated in hospital. "The blast was so powerful that it left craters," civil defence force director Nikolay Nikolov said.
Rescue workers say they are unable to enter the site until Thursday evening because of the risk of further blasts. He said the cause of the explosion was probably "human error".
However, interior ministry officials visited the factory overnight, defying orders, and said they found no survivors. With the country holding a general election on Sunday, one leading politician said his party was muting its campaign as a sign of respect.
The explosion took place at around 17:00 (14:00 GMT) on Wednesday and a big secondary blast was reported at 21:45. Former Prime Minister Boiko Borisov, whose Gerb party is tipped to win against the outgoing Socialists, told Bulgarian TV station 24 Hours that concerts and other events would be called off.
The factory, some 120km (75 miles) north of Sofia, destroys stockpiles of obsolete munitions for the Bulgarian army and Dnes daily newspaper quoted an expert saying it had been handling explosives from Greece. The explosion occurred at around 17:00 (14:00 GMT) on Wednesday with a big secondary blast reported at 21:45.
The cause of the blast is unclear but reports say 10 tonnes of highly explosive chemicals were being stored at the plant. The factory, some 120km (75 miles) north of Sofia, destroys stockpiles of obsolete munitions for the Bulgarian army and Dnes daily newspaper quoted an expert as saying it had been handling explosives from Greece.
Drones are due to fly over the area and the government has decided to send a team equipped with armoured cars on to the site, local media report, although there is no indication when that will take place. Some 10 tonnes of highly explosive chemicals were being stored at the plant.
"The factory has been reduced to ashes," an interior ministry spokesman said."The factory has been reduced to ashes," an interior ministry spokesman said.
There were explosions at the factory in 2007 and 2010, in which several people were hurt. Two units of the plant were flattened in the 2010 blast. There were explosions at the factory in 2007 and 2010, in which several people were hurt.
Two units of the plant were flattened in the 2010 blast.