Powerful Explosion Rocks Ammunition Factory Near Rome

A massive explosion occurred at an ammunition factory near the town of Colleferro, located southeast of the Italian capital, Rome.

The blast was heard several kilometers away from the site on Thursday (August 13) local time.

According to a report by news agency Reuters, firefighters and police officers had rushed to the scene following reports of a fire at the facility, shortly after which the powerful explosion took place. A massive plume of smoke was seen rising over the industrial area following the blast.

Franco-German defense firm KNDS confirmed that no casualties have been reported so far. The facility is operated by KNDS Ammo Italy, a subsidiary of the KNDS Group.

Giulio Calamita, the Mayor of Colleferro, told reporters that the factory was closed at the time of the explosion due to summer holidays. The absence of workers at the facility prevented a major tragedy, he noted.

The mayor added that emergency personnel were working to extinguish the remaining pockets of fire at the site.

In a statement, KNDS said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion and assess the overall situation. However, details regarding how the initial fire broke out before the explosion were not immediately made available.

According to the company's website, the Colleferro plant manufactures medium and large-caliber ammunition for land and naval defense systems, as well as propellants for space launch vehicles.

KNDS Ammo Italy is an integral part of Europe’s defense supply chain. In 2023, the company was involved as a partner contractor under several framework agreements with the European Defence Agency for the supply of 155mm ammunition.

Consequently, although no casualties were reported, the cause of the explosion and the extent of the damage remain under critical investigation.