Blast at Ammunition Factory Near Rome Sparks Massive Fire, No Injuries Reported
An explosion at a KNDS ammunition factory near Rome caused a large fire and smoke plume, but no injuries were reported.
A significant explosion rocked an ammunition factory in Colleferro, a town near Rome, on Thursday, sending a massive plume of smoke into the sky and triggering a large emergency response. Local officials confirmed that no injuries were reported in the incident.
The blast occurred at a facility operated by KNDS Ammo Italy, a company that manufactures ammunition and other defense-related products. According to officials, the explosion is believed to have originated in the powder-pressing department of the plant.
Residents in the surrounding area reported hearing a loud blast, and videos shared on social media appeared to show a mushroom cloud rising above the facility. The fire that followed the explosion spread to nearby vegetation, prompting a substantial response from emergency services.
Police and ten firefighting crews, supported by a helicopter, were dispatched to the scene to battle the blaze. The helicopter was seen dropping water on the fire, which continued to burn after the initial explosion.
Colleferro Mayor Giulio Calamita described the event as "a huge scare" but reiterated that no injuries had been reported. Initial reports from local media indicated that all 24 workers who were inside the facility at the time of the explosion had been accounted for.
The blast appeared to be confined to a single production and storage area, according to the mayor. The cause of the explosion remains unknown, and police and prosecutors have launched an investigation at the scene.