A fire broke out at an EMCO ammunition warehouse in northern central Bulgaria and explosions were heard, local media reported on Saturday (September 12).

"At the moment, the fire is on the territory of the storage base of the factory. It is moving from warehouse to warehouse…the last explosion was just before 12:00," said Gabrovo's regional governor, Kristina Sidorova. She added that the nearest villages are more than one kilometre away and while there is no danger to people at the moment, they should be on alert.

The cause of the fire remains unclear.

It is the second incident involving an EMCO facility in a month, after an explosion and fire at another EMCO site near the village of Belitsa last month.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: TSAREVA LIVADA NEAR GABROVO, BULGARIA (SEPTEMBER 12, 2026) (IVAN YANEV - No use Bulgaria) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. FIRE BURNING IN DISTANCE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Bulgarian) GABROVO REGIONAL GOVERNOR, KRISTINA SIDOROVA, SAYING:

“At the moment, the fire is on the territory of the storage base of the factory. It is moving from warehouse to warehouse, so to speak, it is spreading between the warehouses. The last explosion was just before 12:00."

JOURNALIST ASKING: Is there a danger to people? What exactly is being stored?

"Representatives of the company need to say what exactly is being stored. I think they said gunpowder and ammunition, but I don't want to mislead you. There is no danger to people at the moment. The nearest villages are up to a kilometer and a half away. We have activated the BG-ALERT (alert/notification) system to warn the surrounding villages. Still, they should know that there are fires nearby and to be on alert."

3. VARIOUS OF EMERGENCY VEHICLE DRIVING AWAY