The explosion, which also left three people injured, occurred near the village of Gorni Lom, some 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Sofia.
Police said smaller explosions continued for several more hours.
Civil Defence chief Nikolai Nikolov said today that the site cannot be inspected by rescue teams until at least 24 hours after the last blast and only then he will he be able to give the exact number of victims.
The cause of the explosions at the factory, owned by a private Bulgarian company, is not immediately clear. In two previous accidents at the site six people have been injured.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
