ELIN PELIN, Bulgaria — The death of Teodor Popov, the son of the warehouse owner whose facility exploded near Elin Pelin, has been officially confirmed. The tragic news was shared by his father, Todor Popov, through a heartfelt social media post late on Sunday evening.
“On this day, one more angel turned into a shining star in the sky! We love you to the moon and back! Rest in peace!” wrote Todor Popov on his Facebook profile. He revealed that his 22-year-old son, Teodor, had joined his friends, Petar Shishkov and Kristina Shishkova, in death.
The devastating incident occurred on Thursday evening, leading to uncontrollable pyrotechnic explosions and a subsequent fire at the warehouse.
Yesterday, around 10:30 a.m., investigators from the National Investigation Service and the District Investigation Service, under the direction of the District Prosecutor’s Office – Sofia, commenced a thorough inspection of the warehouses. The fire department teams and specialized units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs also participated in the inspection.
Two severely burned bodies, believed to be those of the men known to have been in the warehouse at the time of the incident, were found at the scene. It was later confirmed that Teodor Popov was one of those men, bringing the death toll from the accident near Elin Pelin to four.
Earlier, Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov had updated the public on the explosion, confirming three fatalities and one person missing, presumed to be in the explosion’s epicenter. The latest victim was found near the warehouse entrance, but the body’s condition prevented immediate identification.
The tragic events also claimed the life of a 20-year-old woman who was critically injured in the explosions. Despite the best efforts of medical teams, she succumbed to her injuries on Saturday night. The young woman, who was transported to the hospital in critical condition, had suffered extensive burns. The hospital management extended their condolences to her family and relatives.
The explosions also resulted in the death of Petar Shishkov, a 49-year-old expert from the University of Mining and Geology. Shishkov, who was the father of the young woman, succumbed to his injuries as well. His daughter had sustained burns over 85 percent of her body.
Eyewitnesses included a security guard who managed to rescue two individuals and a boy who escaped the fire. Minister Stoyanov criticized the boy’s parents for not promptly informing authorities, which complicated efforts to track survivors.
The warehouse owner, Todor Popov, is cooperating fully with the investigation. The authorities had to evacuate nearby residents due to the potential for further explosions. The causes of the incident are still under investigation, with the prosecutor’s office expected to conduct a thorough probe into the warehouse’s activities, particularly during off-hours.
This tragic event has left the community in mourning, as families and friends grapple with the loss of their loved ones. The investigation continues as authorities seek to understand the causes behind this devastating explosion.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members