On August 13, 2026, a fire followed by a powerful explosion occurred at an ammunition plant in the city of Colleferro, approximately 40–50 kilometers southeast of Rome. The roar of the blast was heard for several kilometers around.
According to the ANSA news agency and other Italian media, the facility is the former Simmel Difesa plant (referred to as Sammel in some sources), now owned by KNDS Ammo Italy — the Italian subsidiary of the Franco-German defense group KNDS. The plant produces medium and large-caliber ammunition for land and naval systems, as well as solid rocket fuel for aerospace launch vehicles. The facility is among the contractors of the European Defence Agency for the supply of 155mm ammunition.
The incident occurred in the powder pressing department. At the time of the event, approximately 20 to 24 employees were on site. According to preliminary information from local authorities and rescue services, there were no casualties — all workers have been accounted for.
The mayor of Colleferro, Giulio Calamita, stated that the situation is under control and that the explosion took place during the summer holiday period, when the plant was not operating at full capacity. According to him, otherwise the consequences could have been far more severe.
Fire brigades, police, and a helicopter were dispatched to the scene. The flames partially spread to the surrounding vegetation. Minor damage (broken windows) was reported in nearby residential buildings. The Velletri prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the fire. The causes of the incident are being determined; access to the epicenter of the explosion has been temporarily restricted for safety reasons.
The same plant had already experienced a major explosion in October 2007, which resulted in the death of one worker and injuries to 13 others.
