Teams from the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) - Stara Zagora are on site in connection with a fire that broke out at a plastic waste sorting and storage facility near Stara Zagora, on the road to the village of Hrishteni.

The incident was reported shortly after 16h today. According to initial reports, the fire has engulfed a large amount of plastic waste stored in an open area. According to reports from the scene, over 50 metric tons of waste are burning. Four teams from the Regional Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection are working to bring the fire under control.

The Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) - Stara Zagora is initiating additional air quality measurements in the area. Experts from the inspectorate and the Regional Laboratory - Stara Zagora are on site and have begun measuring air quality indicators. Given the nature and scale of the incident, monitoring will continue for several consecutive days, tracking changes in air quality indicators in the area of the fire and in nearby settlements.

On instructions by the Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova, a mobile automatic air quality monitoring station is being deployed. It will be positioned in the settlement closest to the fire and will conduct continuous measurements of air quality indicators.

According to preliminary data, the nearest settlement - the village of Hrishteni - is located approximately 4 kilometers from the fire site. At this time, there is no indication that the smoke from the fire is moving toward the settlement.

The relevant authorities recommend that residents near the fire area limit their time outdoors and remain indoors, unless absolutely necessary, until the situation is brought under control.

Experts from the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water – Stara Zagora are monitoring the situation in coordination with fire safety and civil protection authorities and other relevant agencies.

The Ministry of Environment and Water (MEW) will promptly inform the public about the results of the measurements being taken and the development of the situation.