Strong hurricane winds blew away most of the glass decorative facade of Largo Mall in the center of Blagoevgrad. This event happened today, September 24, in the evening at about 18.00. It is unknown if there are any casualties. Nevertheless, several ambulances arrived at the scene following a call to 112. “There is still no information about the wounded, colleagues are still on the spot,” said Yordanka Sharkova from the Blagoevgrad Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The incident attracted the attention of dozens of citizens who filmed the mall without thinking about their own safety. There is a risk that other parts of the building's cladding could fall as wind gusts are still strong. Several nearby buildings were damaged. Strong winds blow debris out of the building in all directions.
Visitors to the cafe located opposite the pier witnessed the incident. “We went for coffee with friends, the children were with us, we started to place an order, and at that moment the facade collapsed, it was very scary, we went out, debris was flying everywhere, everyone was lucky that there were no people in front of the entrance,” said Joanna Dimitrova.
Panic and riots began inside the pier. “Everyone—workers and visitors—was wondering how to get out of the building now; there was a burning smell. There were about 25 of us,” says Maria Georgieva.
District Governor Biser Mikhailov also arrived at the scene and assured that there were no casualties in the incident. The area around the store has been cordoned off. The cleansing begins tonight. A rescue team is on site and will remain there until the end of the day. In case of other collapses, citizens can call 112, as well as the number on duty in the municipality of Blagoevgrad 073/88 44 06.
The regional prosecutor's office has ordered an immediate investigation into the fall of the Mall Largo facade in Blagoevgrad, the press service of the Appeals Prosecutor's Office in Sofia reported.
On behalf of the prosecutors, experts from the Blagoevgrad municipality and the Regional Directorate of National Construction Control will examine the contractor who built the façade, compliance with building regulations, supervision of the facility and its commissioning, as well as quality control.
It also became known that, due to increased winds, several trees were uprooted in the city of Montana, a billboard was damaged, and about 8,000 CEZ subscribers were left without electricity. Significant cooling has arrived in the western part of Bulgaria.
As a result, the strongest gust of wind occurred in Pazardzhik - more than 104 km/h. The hazardous wind warning remains in effect until September 25.