Three technicians were in the middle of transferring fireworks from two storage buildings to a pickup truck when a series of three explosions occurred at a fireworks factory. The three technicians were killed and the two buildings were destroyed. Alarmed by the explosions, local residents contacted the firefighters. Despite the danger, the operator of the factory did not evacuate its employees. Forty minutes later, a third fireworks storage building exploded, killing a fourth person. This explosion was triggered by burning debris that had been sent flying by the first explosions. Due to the narrow lanes at the site, the firefighters encountered difficulties in responding to the accident. The fires that broke out in the site’s green spaces were brought under control. The last flames were extinguished nine hours later.

All the pyrotechnic compositions stored at the factory exploded in a massive chain reaction. Nearly all the buildings at the factory were destroyed. The blasts from the explosions damaged other buildings located within a 500-m radius. Property damage from the accident was initially estimated at €1.5m (€0.6m onsite and €0.9m offsite). The three technicians who were transferring the fireworks were killed, as was a fourth employee when the third building blew up. A firefighter, injured while battling one of the fires, died in hospital three months later. Eight other people (three employees and five firefighters) were injured and taken to hospital.

Chemicals used in the manufacture of fireworks were found in the soil around the factory. The explosions sent up clouds of toxic chemicals into the air. In the days following the accident, the residues of the explosives were neutralised and disposed of. The site was secured. Strength tests were conducted on the neighbouring buildings that had been subjected to the blast.

After the accident, chain-fused firework shells fitted with ignitors and loaded into mortars were found in the remains of the factory and in vehicles parked nearby. However, because such fireworks are extremely sensitive, it is prohibited to prepare them elsewhere than at their final place of use (fireworks show). The accident was caused by failure to take the necessary precautions while these highly sensitive fireworks were being transferred. The factory’s employees had been under tremendous pressure to meet seasonal demand.

In addition, the amounts of fireworks present on the site exceeded the authorised maximums. The safe separation distances between the buildings on the site did not prevent the explosions from propagating.

The accident’s consequences were compounded by design flaws in the facilities and the implementation of the emergency procedures.

Furthermore, the regulatory violations that had been found during the previous safety inspection, conducted seven months earlier, had not be corrected.

This accident shares a number of similarities with the 1985 Oklahoma accident (see 50269).

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