A series of strong explosions at a warehouse full of military shells began at about 6.30am in Chelopechene village, east of Sofia. The explosions are still going on and can still be heard in the area. A large cloud covers the sky.

A woman living in Chepintsi village near Chelopechene said that she saw a large smoke cloud mushroom into the sky after the first blast. "It was terrible, pieces of doors, windows and everything was all around me," she told private broadcaster Nova TV. The extent of the damage is still to be evaluated, but TV reports showed houses that have been seriously damaged.

People were advised by the Civil Protection guard to wear wet towels in front of their mouths as a precaution against the smoke.

According to Bulgarian Army Chief of Staff General Zlatan Stoykov, no one was harmed or injured in the blasts. Stoykov was interviewed live on from Chelopechene by Nova TV.

"From what I know, there were three people in the warehouse when the explosions started. They have been evacuated and are safe. The shells in questions are conventional army shells and there is no chemical element involved, just gunpowder, so there is no chemicals danger that can affect the health of the citizens," Stoykov said.

"I don't know the cause of the incident yet and I don't know the quantity of the shells in the warehouse," he said.

Asked whether there was a shell that got onto the runway of Sofia airport, which is in the area, Stoykov said that "pieces of shells are falling everywhere and I don't know if the runway was affected". Ten minutes after he spoke Sofia Airport said it would suspend all flights for the next two hours.

There are about 1500 people living in Chelopechene. "They will be evacuated," Stoykov said. Firefighters are waiting for the blasts to end before moving in. Police has closed the area.

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