Explosion rocks KNDS ammunition plant near Rome, no injuries reported
A powerful explosion struck the KNDS Ammo Italy plant in Colleferro near Rome on Thursday, following a fire in the powder-pressing department. All 24 workers on site were reported safe and no injuries were confirmed.
Explosion at KNDS ammunition plant
A powerful explosion struck the KNDS Ammo Italy ammunition manufacturing plant in Colleferro, south-east of Rome, on Thursday afternoon. The blast followed a fire that broke out in the plant's powder-pressing department and was heard for several kilometers across surrounding municipalities. All 24 workers present at the facility on that day were reported safe, with no immediate injuries confirmed. The plant is located approximately 40 to 60 kilometers from Rome, depending on the source.
The facility, formerly known as Simmel Difesa and now operated by KNDS Ammo Italy, part of the Franco-German defence group KNDS, produces medium- and large-calibre ammunition for land and naval defence systems as well as solid propellants for aerospace launch vehicles. The 100-hectare site is among the contractors on European Defence Agency 155-mm ammunition framework agreements concluded in 2023. The company had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
Timeline of the incident
According to Corriere della Sera, cited by BBC, a compactor, a machine that presses powder, caught fire in one of the workshops. Repubblica reported that the explosion occurred around 14:45 local time. Firefighters and police were already at the site responding to the fire when the explosion happened. Television footage showed a large plume of black smoke rising above the industrial site as emergency services worked in the area. Images broadcast after the event showed a small fire giving way suddenly to a large detonation, followed by a dense column of black smoke.
- Fire breaks out in the powder-pressing department of the KNDS plant
- Firefighters and police arrive on site while fire is still burning
- Powerful explosion occurs, heard for kilometers across surrounding municipalities
- Fire spreads to nearby forested area; roads closed for safety
Emergency response and damage
Several firefighting teams were deployed to the site but initially could not intervene due to the intensity of the fire and the elevated risk associated with the explosive material at the facility. Firefighters reported via social media that the fire had spread to nearby forested areas. Rescue teams faced difficulties entering deeper into the factory because of extreme conditions and the risk of additional blasts. Investigators said they would not provide further details at that time. Nearby roads were closed for safety reasons.
Mayor Giulio Calamita said windows were blown out in several houses near the plant. He noted that the explosion occurred during the summer holiday period, when the factory was largely closed, as many Italian companies shut down in August.
Fortunately, the explosion occurred during a non-working period, otherwise it would have been a tragedy.
Official statements
Francesco Rocca, president of the Lazio region, said in a statement that the absolute priority was to ensure people's safety and allow all personnel involved in the emergency response to operate under the best possible conditions. Calamita told reporters the situation was under control and that he was awaiting confirmation that no one had been killed or injured. He added that efforts were underway to extinguish the remaining fire pockets.
At this time, the absolute priority is to ensure people's safety and allow all personnel involved in the emergency response to operate under the best possible conditions.
Previous incident at the site
In 2007, an explosion at the same Colleferro plant, then owned by Simmel Difesa, killed one worker and injured 13 others.
