Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Explosion at KNDS munitions factory near Rome; no injuries
A very loud explosion happened at a factory in Italy.
The factory makes ammunition, which is the stuff used in guns, tanks and rockets.
It is near a town called Colleferro, not far from Rome.
The blast was so powerful that people who lived kilometres away could hear it.
This happened on a Thursday when the factory was closed for the summer holidays.
That is very lucky, because the town's mayor said it would have been a tragedy if workers had been there.
Firefighters and police were already at the factory because there was a fire before the big boom.
The company that runs the factory, called KNDS, says it is investigating what happened.
The same factory had a big accident in 2007, and the mayor is asking people not to spread false rumours.
No one was hurt, and officials say the situation is under control.
A massive explosion ripped through a munitions factory near Colleferro, southeast of Rome, on Thursday, Aug 13.
The blast was heard for kilometres around, with large plumes of smoke visible above the industrial site.
No injuries were reported, partly because the plant was closed for summer holidays, according to KNDS and the Colleferro mayor.
Firefighters and police were already at the site responding to a fire when the explosion occurred.
The cause is under investigation by KNDS, and mayor Giulio Calamita urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information.
- Who
- KNDS Ammo Italy, firefighters, police, Colleferro mayor Giulio Calamita, and the factory's employees who sheltered in secure areas.
- What
- A massive explosion ripped through a munitions factory that makes medium- and large-calibre ammunition and solid propellants.
- When
- Thursday, Aug 13.
- Where
- Near the town of Colleferro, southeast of Rome, Italy.
- Why
- The circumstances are under investigation; the explosion occurred while emergency crews were responding to a fire at the site.
- Event
- Explosion at a munitions factory
- Location
- Near Colleferro, southeast of Rome, Italy
- Date
- Thursday, Aug 13
- Plant operator
- KNDS Ammo Italy, a subsidiary of the Franco-German defence group KNDS
- Casualties
- No injuries reported
- Blast
- Heard for kilometres around; large plumes of smoke visible
- Context
- Plant closed for summer holidays; firefighters and police already responding to a fire
- Investigation
- Circumstances being investigated and assessed by KNDS teams on site
