Mother and son die in blast at same Italian fireworks factory that killed three relatives in 2023
An explosion at the Pirotecnica Mattei fireworks factory in Borgorose, Italy, killed Simone Colle, 30, and his mother Teresa Tozzi, 60, on 8 July 2026. The victims were relatives of three family members who died in a 2023 blast at the same site, which had recently reopened after the owners' conviction.
The explosion
At 9:08 am on 8 July, three blasts rocked the Pirotecnica Mattei factory in Sant'Anatolia di Borgorose, in the province of Rieti. A dense black smoke mushroom rose over the site, and the booms were heard kilometres away. Inside a bunker used for preliminary processing of fireworks materials, Simone Colle, 30, was working with gunpowder. His mother, Teresa Tozzi, 60, was also present, possibly visiting or helping, though her presence is under investigation. Both were killed instantly, their bodies carbonised. Three other workers on site escaped injury. Early reports had suggested three people were injured, but authorities later confirmed the two fatalities.
A family struck again
The deaths bring to seven the number of Colle family members killed in fireworks-related incidents, all tied to the preparation of pyrotechnics for local patron saint festivals. In July 2023 (sources differ on the exact date, citing either 21 or 28 July), Franco Colle, 59, and his children Claudio, 25, and Anna, 32, died in an explosion at the same factory. The community of Torano is once again in mourning, with residents describing a sense of grim repetition. The Colle family's tragedies are intertwined with the local tradition of "botti", a folkloric ritual that often escalates into competitions for the most spectacular displays.
Yet another serious accident happened this morning at the fireworks factory, which had resumed operations after the tragedy a few years ago. Despite the checks carried out by the specific competent authorities, it has happened again.
Factory's troubled past
After the 2023 deaths, the Pirotecnica Mattei was shut down. In 2025, brothers Fabrizio and Gaetano Mattei, the owners, pleaded guilty to charges including illegal storage of explosive material, illegal labour, and death as a consequence of another crime. They received a four-year prison sentence. The factory was allowed to reopen, with authorities asserting that safety checks had been carried out. The latest explosion has raised fresh questions about oversight.
- Three Colle family members killed in explosion at the factory
- Owners Fabrizio and Gaetano Mattei plead guilty, sentenced to 4 years
- Simone Colle and Teresa Tozzi killed in new explosion
Investigation underway
Firefighters and the Carabinieri's Racis unit are conducting a joint inspection. A preliminary report will be sent to the Rieti prosecutor's office, which will open an investigation and order further technical tests and an autopsy. The cause of the explosion remains unknown. Mayor Calisse said the priority was to secure the site and determine what went wrong.
