2008 Chelopechene explosions: Difference between revisions
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|caption= A [[mushroom cloud]] formed shortly after the first explosion. |
|caption= A [[mushroom cloud]] formed shortly after the first explosion. |
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|date=[[3 July]], [[2008]] |
|date=[[3 July]], [[2008]] |
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|time=early morning (0430 [[GMT]]) |
|time=early morning (0430 [[GMT]]) 06:30 local |
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|place=[[Sofia]], [[Bulgaria]] |
|place=[[Sofia]], [[Bulgaria]] |
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|casualties1= 3 injured, no fatalities |
|casualties1= 3 injured, no fatalities |
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The '''2008 Chelopechene Blasts''' were a devastating series of explosions that occurred early on Thursday morning [[3 July]] [[2008]] around 6:30 |
The '''2008 Chelopechene Blasts''' were a devastating series of explosions that occurred early on Thursday morning [[3 July]] [[2008]] around 6:30 local time at a munitions depot in the suburb of Chelopechene, 10 kilometres east of the center of the [[Bulgaria]]n capital, [[Sofia]]. The explosions were heard in the entire capital and surrounding villages. <ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/03/europe/EU-Bulgaria-Explosions.php Blasts at Bulgarian army depots near capital damage buildings; no injuries<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The depot stored obsolete military weapons.<ref>{{no icon}}[http://www.avisenagder.no/nyheter.asp?ArtID=bulgaria-eksplosjon Description] in [[:no:Agder Flekkefjords Tidende|Agder Flekkefjords Tidende]]: ''en avfallsplass for utrangerte militære våpen.''</ref> |
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==Timeline== |
==Timeline== |
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==Afternoon earthquake== |
==Afternoon earthquake== |
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{{expert-subject|Earthquakes|section|date=5 July 2008}} |
{{expert-subject|Earthquakes|section|date=5 July 2008}} |
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To make matters worse, there was a moderate [[earthquake]] at |
To make matters worse, there was a moderate [[earthquake]] at 15:12 [[Eastern European Time|EET]]{{Fact|date=July 2008}} measuring 3.2 on the [[Richter scale]]. The [[epicentre]] was 15 km south of the centre of Sofia. Residents thought this was another explosion and rushed to the streets in panic, especially those living in high-rise buildings in the [[Mladost, Sofia|Mladost]] district. Scientists from the [[Bulgarian Academy of Sciences]] said it was very likely that the earthquake was triggered by the blasts.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} The geological institute, on the other hand, said that there was no link to the blasts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23507750-details/Arms+dump+explosions+rock+Bulgarian+capital+...+then+the+city+is+struck+by+an+earthquake/article.do|title=Arms dump explosions rock Bulgarian capital ... then the city is struck by an earthquake}}</ref> Bulgaria's defense minister [[Nikolay Tsonev]] said that there were no underground galleries at the military facility and thus no underground blasts that could have caused the recorded tremor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=94791|title=No Underground Galleries at Military Facility on Fire near Sofia}}</ref> |
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==Environmental impact== |
==Environmental impact== |
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Revision as of 05:45, 7 July 2008
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (July 2008) |
 A mushroom cloud formed shortly after the first explosion. | |
| Date | 3 July, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Time | early morning (0430 GMT) 06:30 local |
| Location | Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Casualties | |
| 3 injured, no fatalities | |
The 2008 Chelopechene Blasts were a devastating series of explosions that occurred early on Thursday morning 3 July 2008 around 6:30 local time at a munitions depot in the suburb of Chelopechene, 10 kilometres east of the center of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. The explosions were heard in the entire capital and surrounding villages. [1] The depot stored obsolete military weapons.[2]
Timeline
At 6:30 in the morning Sofia residents were awakened by a powerful, deafening explosion so loud it set off car alarms in districts as far away as Lyulin, some 15 km from the blast. Further east there was great panic among residents as the shockwave shattered windows and some trees were blown down. There was another powerful blast at 6:45. Explosions continued throughout the day prompting authorities to evacuate the residents of Chelopechene, Chepintsi and Botunets.
A mushroom cloud formed after the first explosion and rose quickly into the morning sky, obscuring the sun.
Panic and first media reports
The first official reports of the blast came from the Bulgarian National Radio at the 7:00 morning news bulletin. TV stations and Internet media also reported that "loud explosions were heard in Sofia but the source was not immediately clear".
Bulgarian Nova Television, which is in close proximity to the blast site, showed residents leaving their homes in panic. Some complained of difficulty breathing. Two men wept on TV, saying their homes were absolutely devastated.
Police and emergency services were inundated with calls from frantic residents. Ambulances and fire engines rushed to the scene but there was little they could do since loud explosions were still being heard in the area.
Official response
The mayor of Sofia, Boyko Borisov, was among the first officials to arrive at the scene. He issued a warning to local residents to stay indoors or leave the area and to the inhabitants of Sofia to stay at home, and close all windows.[3]
Later, all residents were ordered to evacuate an 8-km zone around the site for fear of another, more powerful explosion.
Representatives from the Bulgarian Red Cross, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry for the Environment, the Ministry of Defense, Civil Defense Units and Pirogov paramedics were all at the scene.
Injuries and property damage
Two people suffered cuts from broken glass and one man was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation. Four soldiers on duty at the depots escaped unscathed.
Damage to the area was extensive. Aerial photos showed that the facility was completely obliterated. The ammunitions depot and surrounding buildings were destroyed.
Nearby homes suffered broken windows and smashed doors and cracks appeared on several homes. Sofia Airport and the Russian Cultural and Information Center also suffered broken windows.[4][5][6] The airport was closed after debris from the blasts fell near a taxiway.
Contents
A total of 1,494 tons of aging artillery shells, depth charges, grenades and other explosives were stored at the depots, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. The communist-era ammunition had been due for disposal by army experts.
Sofia airport closure
The international Sofia Airport had to close down as broken glass was reported at Terminal One and debris on the runways. All flights were redirected to Plovdiv, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) east of Sofia.
Afternoon earthquake
 | This section needs attention from an expert in Earthquakes. Please add a reason or a talk parameter to this template to explain the issue with the section. (5 July 2008) |
To make matters worse, there was a moderate earthquake at 15:12 EET[citation needed] measuring 3.2 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was 15 km south of the centre of Sofia. Residents thought this was another explosion and rushed to the streets in panic, especially those living in high-rise buildings in the Mladost district. Scientists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences said it was very likely that the earthquake was triggered by the blasts.[citation needed] The geological institute, on the other hand, said that there was no link to the blasts.[7] Bulgaria's defense minister Nikolay Tsonev said that there were no underground galleries at the military facility and thus no underground blasts that could have caused the recorded tremor.[8]
Environmental impact
"Large quantities of conventional ammunition are stored in the facility, but there are no toxic chemicals or radioactive substances stored there," said Nikolai Kolev, a former army chief of staff. There was visible air pollution in the area and residents said there was a strange smell in the air near the blast zone.
References
- ^ Blasts at Bulgarian army depots near capital damage buildings; no injuries
- ^ Template:No iconDescription in Agder Flekkefjords Tidende: en avfallsplass for utrangerte militære våpen.
- ^ Template:Ru iconXinhua news agency report
- ^ Template:Ru iconВзрывами в Софии выбило окно в российском культурном центре (РИА Новости)
- ^ Template:Ru iconThe news report at РИА Новости
- ^ Template:Ru iconreport at РИА Новости
- ^ "Arms dump explosions rock Bulgarian capital ... then the city is struck by an earthquake".
- ^ "No Underground Galleries at Military Facility on Fire near Sofia".
- BBC News: Sofia shaken by depot explosions
- Sofia Echo: Sofia Airport still Closed After Blasts
- Reuters: Arms dump explosions rock Bulgarian capital
- CNN: Explosions rock Bulgarian army facility
External links
42°44′7″N 23°27′41″E / 42.73528°N 23.46139°E News reports:
Video: