Explosion and fire at EMKO military plant near Belitsa; about 300 evacuated
The blast on August 10, 2026 hit a plant that makes ammunition for Ukraine; authorities say there are no fatalities or injuries and an investigation is ongoing.
An explosion and subsequent fire broke out at a military-production site near the village of Belitsa in the Tryavna municipality of Bulgaria on August 10, 2026. Authorities evacuated about 300 workers; officials reported no deaths or injuries.
Local emergency services say the blaze began around noon and investigators believe it may have started when a truck caught fire. Flames spread to one of the facility's ammunition warehouses, where additional detonations were heard and a column of thick smoke rose over the site.
Residents of nearby villages were advised to remain indoors while firefighters battled the blaze, and authorities ordered the temporary evacuation of settlements closest to the plant for safety reasons.
The site is operated by the private Bulgarian defence company EMKO, owned by businessman Emilijan Gebrev. The facility assembles and manufactures ammunition, and also carries out weapons repair; it produces artillery shells and tank ammunition for Ukraine.
Preliminary findings and next steps
Early indications point to an accident rather than deliberate sabotage. Bulgarian National Radio reported that the fire may have started while a fuel tanker was filling storage tanks, after which munitions in a warehouse ignited. An official investigation into the causes of the explosion and fire is under way.
Photo: Artur Widak/NurPhoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
