Second day of explosions near Sofia

SOFIA, Bulgaria, July 4 (UPI) -- Explosions from a military munitions warehouse outside the Bulgarian capital Sofia continued for a second day Friday, state media reported.

Army officials told the Sofia News Agency the blasts were smaller than the ones that frightened residents in the city Thursday when the explosions began around 7 a.m.

The officials said most of the stored ordinance was gone and a special military investigative team would be sent in to the site near the village of Chelopechene, east of Sofia, when the last remaining shells exploded.

The village was evacuated Thursday as windows shattered from the concussive blasts. Residents were to begin returning home Friday, officials said.

The Defense Ministry was quick to issue assurance there was no danger of "noxious gases" from the explosions, indicating the warehouse stored only conventional shells and explosives.