Blasts at the military warehouse in Chepintsi village, east of Sofia, which is used to store an as yet undetermined amount of conventional shells, are still continuing, according to reports from the village.

The first blast was reported at about 6.30am. No one knows how many shells there are at the warehouse. “First they said 15 tons, then they said 20 tons, obviously no one knows,” Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov told private broadcaster bTV.

“I appeal to the people in the area, Chepintsi, Chelopech and Kremikovtzi, to evacuate because we don’t know what might happen,” he said.

bTV reported that police has asked reporters in the area of the warehouse to move out of the area, the same as all the ambulances that were sent there.

Sofia, on the other hand, was in no danger bTV said. The blasts did not result in any leakage of noxious gases, Environment Minister Djevdet Chakurov told bTV. “There is no danger for anyone in Sofia,” he said, referring to the large cloud that resulted from the blast. People in the area were advised to stay indoors and use wet cloth when breathing in the outside.

Speculations earlier suggested that the cloud that resulted from the blast might move to Sofia. Despite the calls for no panic kindergartens were advised to keep children indoors for the day. 

Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev called a meeting of the Cabinet hours after the incident.

According to Borissov, however, there was no adequate reaction to the incident. Borissov said he was the first to arrive at the scene this morning.

“The country is not prepared for any kind of emergency and god safe us from terrorist attack,” he told bTV. “We were calling the Defence Ministry for 30 minutes after the incident to find out what was happening, but no one answered. Prosecutor-general Boris Velchev called me and offered to liaise with the ministry. President Georgi Purvanov was also at the scene,” Borissov said.

The army warehouses were not looked after properly, the mayor said. “The army hires pensioners as guards and no one exercises control on what is happening there,” he said.