EMCO Warehouse Manufacturing Artillery Shells Explodes in Bulgaria

A warehouse at EMCO ammunition manufacturing plant, located in the village of Belitsa in central Bulgaria, exploded.

According to local authorities, the incident occurred in the morning after a truck caught fire on the factory grounds, and the fire subsequently triggered a detonation in the warehouses, reports the Bulgarian News Agency.

There are currently no reports of fatalities or injuries, and all workers at the military factory have been evacuated from the site by bus.

To ensure public safety, authorities activated the alert system and began a precautionary evacuation of residents from nearby settlements. Law enforcement officers cordoned off the plant’s territory, blocked adjacent roads, and set up checkpoints.

Due to thick smoke and the threat of air pollution, residents were urged to close their windows, wear protective masks, and avoid going outside. Specialists from the Environmental Inspectorate were dispatched to the scene to measure air quality, along with police and rescue teams.

The Bulgarian company EMCO, owned by businessman Emilian Gebrev, is one of the country’s largest private defense contractors, which specializes in the manufacture of a wide range of weapons and ammunition, both Soviet-standard and NATO-standard. The company’s core business includes the mass production of artillery shells, specifically in 122 mm, 152 mm, and 155 mm calibers; 122 mm rocket-propelled shells for ‘Grad’-type multiple launch rocket systems; as well as tank rounds and rounds for grenade launchers.

In addition, the company manufactures mortars and mortar rounds in 60 mm, 82 mm, and 120 mm calibers, unguided air-to-ground missiles and aerial bombs, as well as hand grenades and special pyrotechnic devices. In addition to manufacturing ammunition, EMCO modernizes light artillery and anti-aircraft systems, anti-tank weapons, and performs major repairs on light armored vehicles.