Explosion at Ammunition Plant Near Coleferro Averted Major Tragedy, Mayor Says

Rome, August 16: An explosion occurred at an ammunition factory near Coleferro, southeast of Italy’s capital, Rome. The blast was heard several kilometers away.

According to local media reports, the explosion took place while firefighters and police were already on-site to extinguish a fire. The Franco-German defense group KNDDS stated that there were no reports of injuries. The plant is operated by KADDS Ammo Italy, a subsidiary of the group.

Coleferro’s Mayor, Giulio Calamita, informed reporters that if the explosion had not happened during the summer holidays when the plant was closed, it could have resulted in a significant tragedy.

Benjamin Irdi, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund and CEO of HighGround, commented on the incident, stating, “The cause of the Coleferro explosion is still unknown. Prosecutors in Valmontone are treating it as a case of arson, and initial investigations suggest that a press malfunction in the powder compaction department may have been responsible.”

He added that there is currently no evidence of sabotage by any adversary in public records. “We should be cautious about making accusations without solid proof,” he warned.

KADDS also released a statement updating the situation, saying, “Teams on-site are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

According to information shared on the plant’s website, the facility produces medium and large-caliber ammunition for land and naval defense systems, as well as solid propellant for aerospace launch vehicles.

Documents from the European Union indicate that this company is one of the contractors for the European Defense Agency’s 155-mm ammunition framework agreements established in 2023.

Viral videos on social media show large plumes of smoke rising from the industrial site as emergency services respond. Italy’s news agency AGI reported that there were no casualties, and employees were sheltered in secure areas within the facility.

Mayor Giulio Calamita posted on Facebook that the situation is under control. “There is much fear, but it is essential to remain calm. Most importantly, we must prevent the spread of misinformation similar to that from the 2007 accident. We will update you with verified information as soon as possible,” he stated.

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K.K./A.B.M.