List of fireworks accidents and incidents

Last updated

This is a list of fireworks accidents and incidents, including pyrotechnics fire and explosion. The list is sortable by casualties and date.

DateEventLocationCountryCasualtiesStructure
1869-04-05C. N. Romaine & Brothers fireworks factory explosion Petersburg, VirginiaUnited States12 deathsfactory
1903-06-21Fireworks explosion in downtown shop Paterson, New JerseyUnited States17 deathswarehouse
1904-11-04Fireworks explosion at Madison Square New York City United States15 deaths
1908-07-03 S. S. Kresge Fireworks Explosion Cleveland, OhioUnited States7 deaths [1] five-and-dime store
1909-07-03 Great Nampa Fire Arnold Cigar Store, Nampa, Idaho United States4–5 deaths, unconfirmedCigar Store
1928-03-06Fireworks factory explosion Samarang, Java Indonesia 20+ deathsfactory
1930-04-03Pennsylvania Fireworks Display Company factory explosion Devon, PennsylvaniaUnited States9 deathsfactory
1937-07-01Drake Drug Company fireworks explosion Nampa, IdahoUnited States6 deathsDrug Store
1942-11-06Rochester Fireworks Company explosion Perinton, New YorkUnited States11 deathsfactory
1947-04-01Fireworks factory explosion Clinton, MissouriUnited States10 deathsfactory
1958-06-23Fireworks stand explosion Salvador, Bahia Brazil100+ deaths
1964-08-24Fireworks ignite storage tanksAtlatlahuaca Mexico 45 deaths
1970-05-27Carpentersville Fireworks Company explosion Huntley, IllinoisUnited States3 injuries [2] factory
1971-05-17Continental Fireworks Company explosion Pisgah, IllinoisUnited States3 deaths, 5 injuries [2] factory
1971-06-13Fireworks explosion destroys school Puebla Mexico13 deaths
1972-03-06Melrose Display Fireworks Company explosion Orland Park, IllinoisUnited States3 deaths, 16 injuries [2] factory
1972-07-04Bangs Lake Park explosion Wauconda, IllinoisUnited States1 death, 8 injuries [2] park
1973-05-30Children injured by discarded shell Huntley, IllinoisUnited States2 injuries [2] factory
1973-06-09Worldwide Fireworks Company explosion McHenry, IllinoisUnited States7 injuries [2] factory
1977-02-18 Xinjiang 61st Regiment Farm fire Xinjiang 61st RegimentChina694 deaths, 161 disabled [3] public hall
1983-05-27 Benton fireworks disaster Benton, TennesseeUnited States11 deaths, 1 injuryfactory
1984-09-07 C23 tragedy Qala, Gozo Malta 7 deaths, 1 injurynavy
1985-05-20Illegal fireworks factory explosion Beaver Township, Mahoning County, OhioUnited States9 deathsfactory
1985-06-25 Aerlex Fireworks plant explosion Hallett, OklahomaUnited States21 deathsfactory
1986-04-05 1986 San Francisco fireworks disaster San Francisco, CaliforniaUnited States8–9 deaths, 20 injuriesfactory
1987-07-04 National Mall Fireworks Display Washington DC United States4+ injuries [4] park
1987-09-25Celebrity Fireworks plant explosion Rialto, CaliforniaUnited States1 death [5] factory
1988-12-12 Mexico City fireworks disaster Mexico City Mexico 62+ deaths, up to 83 injuriesmarket
1989-03-22Fengate fireworks factory explosion Peterborough United Kingdom 1 firefighter death, over 100 injuriesfactory [6]
1991-02-14 Culemborg fireworks disaster Culemborg and Vianen Netherlands 2 deaths, dozens of injuries [7] factory
1991-05-07 Bright Sparklers Fireworks disaster Sungai Buloh Malaysia26 deaths, 83 injuriesfactory
1991-06-21Fireworks store explosion Rio de Janeiro Brazil22 deathswarehouse
1996-01-31 1996 Shaoyang explosion RFX factory in Shaoyang, HunanChina134 death, 405 injuries [8] RDX factory
1996-07-03Fireworks stand explosion Lawrence County, OhioUnited States9 deaths, 11 injuries [9] shop
1996-11-00accidents in a number of fireworks factories ?China51 deaths [7] factory
1997-06-05Pyro Shows fireworks warehouse explosion LaFollette , TennesseeUnited States4 deathswarehouse [10]
1998-12-11Independence Professional Fireworks factory explosion Osseo, MichiganUnited States7 deathsfactory
1999-09-26 Celaya fireworks disaster Celaya Mexico63 deaths, [7] 348 injurieswarehouse
1999-12-00explosion in a fireworks factory ?Brazil39 deaths [7] factory
2000-05-13 Enschede fireworks disaster Enschede Netherlands [7] 23 deaths, c. 950 injuriesfactory
2001-01-01 Volendam New Year's fire Volendam Netherlands14 deaths, 241 injuriesnightclub
2001-11-24 Canecão Mineiro nightclub fire Belo Horizonte Brazil7 deaths, 197 injuriesnightclub
2001-12-29 Mesa Redonda fire Lima Peru291 deaths, 134 injuriesshopping center
2003-02-20 The Station nightclub fire West Warwick, Rhode IslandUnited States100 deaths, 230 injuriesnightclub
2004-11-03 Seest fireworks disaster Seest Denmark1 death, 24 injuriesfactory
2004-12-30 República Cromañón nightclub fire Buenos Aires Argentina194 deaths, 1,492+ injuriesnightclub
2007-12-31 December 2007 Bocaue fire Bocaue, Bulacan Philippines7 injuriesfactory
2006-12-04Festival Fireworks FactoryEast SussexUnited Kingdom2 deaths, 12 injuriesfactory
2007-31-12Fireworks explosion at Bulacan Bocaue Philippines4 missing (later found back), 7 injuriesShops
2008-02-01 Istanbul fireworks explosion Istanbul Turkey22+ deaths, 100+ injuriesfactory
2008-04-19Factory nightclub fire Quito Ecuador15 deaths, 35 injuries [11] nightclub
2008-09-21 Wuwang Club fire Shenzhen China43 deaths, 88 injuriesnightclub
2009-01-01 Santika Club fire Bangkok Thailand 66 deaths, 222 injuriesnightclub
2009-01-29Starmaker Fireworks Factory explosion Trece Martires Philippines8+ deaths, 70+ injuries [12] factory
2009-02-09 Beijing Television Cultural Center fire Beijing China1 death, 7 injuriesopen air fireworks show
2009-12-05 Lame Horse fire Perm Russia 156 deaths, 78 injuriesnightclub
2012-07-04 Big Bay Boom premature mass discharge San Diego, CaliforniaUnited States0 casualties [13] open air fireworks show from four barges and a pier
2012-09-05 Sivakasi factory explosion Sivakasi India 40 deaths, 70+ injuriesfactory
2013-01-27 Kiss nightclub fire Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul Brazil242 deaths, 630 injuriesnightclub
2013-06-20B.E.M. Fireworks explosion Coteau-du-Lac, QuebecCanada2 deaths [14] warehouse
2014-04-20 Fireworks incident De Kuip, Rotterdam The Netherlands ?football stadium
2015-10-30 Colectiv nightclub fire Bucharest Romania 64 deaths, 146 injuriesnightclub
2015-12-31Manila New Year's fireworks Manila Philippines1 death, 380 injuries, thousands displaced [15] open air fireworks show
2016-04-10 Puttingal temple fire Kollam, Kerala India111 deaths, 350+ injuriesplace of worship
2016-12-20 2016 San Pablito Market fireworks explosion Tultepec Mexico42 deaths, 84 injuries [16] market
2017-10-26 Tangerang fireworks disaster Tangerang Indonesia 49 deaths, 46 injuriesfactory
2018-06-06Fireworks explosionTultepecMexico7 deaths, 7 injuries [16] warehouse
2018-07-05Fireworks disasterTultepecMexico24 deaths, 49+ injuries [16] warehouse
2021-03-16Ontario fireworks explosion Ontario, California United States2 deaths, 1 injured [17] residential area
2021-07-04 LAPD firework disposal accidentLos Angeles, CaliforniaUnited States17 injuries [18] residential area
2022-07-14 Bastille Day Cholet France2 deaths, 7 injuriesOpen air show
2022-08-14 2022 Yerevan explosion Yerevan Armenia16 deaths, 61 injurieswarehouse
2022-12-1"Magic in the Sky" warehouse blast Orlando, Florida United States4 deaths, 1 injury [19] warehouse
2023-02-19Blitar fireworks explosion Blitar Indonesia4 deaths, 13 injuries [20] house
2023-07-29 Sungai Kolok fireworks disaster Su-ngai Kolok Thailand10+ deaths, at least 118 injured [21] warehouse
2023-09-26 Qaraqosh wedding fire Qaraqosh Iraq107 deaths, 82 injuries [22] wedding hall
2024-01-17Suphanburi fireworks disaster Suphan Buri Thailand23 deaths, 7 injuries [23] factory

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enschede fireworks disaster</span> 2000 explosion in the eastern Netherlands

The Enschede fireworks disaster was a catastrophic fireworks explosion on 13 May 2000 in Enschede, Netherlands. The explosion killed 23 people including four firefighters and injured 950 others. A total of 400 homes were destroyed and 1,500 buildings were subsequently damaged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Bocaue fire</span> 2007 fire and explosion in Bocaue, Bulacan

On the morning of December 31, 2007, ten fireworks stores began burning in Barangay Turo, Bocaue, Bulacan, Philippines, causing a series of explosions in the area. The fire lasted for almost an hour and caused several traffic jams on Fortunato F. Halili Avenue and the North Luzon Expressway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santika Club fire</span> 2009 fire in Thailand

The Santika Club fire was a fireworks accident and nightclub fire that occurred on Thursday 1 January 2009, in the Santika Club in Ekkamai, Watthana, Bangkok, where New Year celebrations were taking place. 67 people were killed and another 222 injured when fire swept through the club during the New Year's celebration as the band "Burn" was playing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiss nightclub fire</span> 2013 fire in Santa Maria, Brazil

The Kiss nightclub fire started between 2:00 and 2:30 a.m. (BRST) on 27 January 2013 in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, killing 242 people and injuring at least 630 others. The acoustic foam in the ceiling was ignited. It was because outdoor fireworks were used indoors causing the ceiling foam to catch fire, creating a fireworks accident and nightclub fire. The premises having only one exit contributed to the high death toll as well as the electricity going out, making it impossible to find the exit with the layout the way it was. The only light in the building was coming from the bathroom where people flocked, only to be trapped with no way out as they believed it was an exit. It is the second most deadly fire in Brazilian history, surpassed only by the Niterói circus fire of 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mesa Redonda fire</span> 2001 disaster in Lima, Peru

The Mesa Redonda fire occurred on Saturday, 29 December 2001 in Lima, Peru. The disaster killed at least 291 people and injured at least another 134. It is currently the worst firework-related fire in history in terms of deaths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puttingal temple fire</span> 2016 explosion in Paravur, Kerala, India

On 10 April 2016 at approximately 03:30 AM IST, the Puttingal Temple in Paravur, Kollam, Kerala, India, experienced a fireworks accident after firework celebrations went awry. As a result, 111 people were killed and more than 350 were injured, including some with severe burns. The temple and at least 150 houses in the area of the temple were damaged by the blast. According to local reports and eyewitnesses, the explosion and fire were caused by sparks from a firecracker being used in a competitive fireworks display igniting fireworks in a concrete storehouse. About 15,000 pilgrims were visiting the temple to mark local Hindu celebrations during the last day of a seven-day festival of the goddess Bhadrakali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 San Pablito Market fireworks explosion</span> 2016 Explosion at the San Pablito Market in Tultepec, Mexico

On 20 December 2016, a fireworks accident occurred at the San Pablito Market in the city of Tultepec, north of Valley of Mexico. At least 42 people were killed in the explosion, and dozens injured.

On September 26, 1999, a stockpile of illegally stored fireworks and gunpowder exploded in the Mexican city of Celaya, killing 63 people and wounding 348 others.

The Tangerang fireworks disaster occurred on 26 October 2017 at the PT. Panca Buana Cahaya Sukses, a fireworks manufacturing factory in Kosambi, Tangerang, Indonesia. The explosion occurred in a warehouse connected to the factory and ignited a large fire. 103 people were working at the factory at the time of the explosion. At least 49 people were killed and 46 others were injured in the fireworks accident. Authorities confirmed that several people were still missing. It was the deadliest industrial accident in Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Beirut explosion</span> Ammonium nitrate explosion in Beirut, Lebanon

On 4 August 2020, a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the Port of Beirut in the capital city of Lebanon exploded, causing at least 218 deaths, 7,000 injuries, and US$15 billion in property damage, as well as leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless. A cargo of 2,750 tonnes of the substance had been stored in a warehouse without proper safety measures for the previous six years after having been confiscated by Lebanese authorities from the abandoned ship MV Rhosus. The explosion was preceded by a fire in the same warehouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Yerevan explosion</span> Fatal fire in Yerevan, Armenia

On 14 August 2022, at 13:23 local time, a large explosion took place in the Surmalu shopping centre in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. It caused widespread destruction and fire, leaving dozens of dead and injured. The explosion killed 16 people and injured 63, with nine missing as of 20 August.

The Sungai Kolok fireworks disaster was a catastrophic fireworks explosion that occurred at a warehouse on 29 July 2023 in Sungai Kolok, Thailand, killing at least 12 and injuring at least 118, and destroying at least 200 homes and businesses.

References

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