| Date | 14 February 1991 |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:50 GMT (11:50 local time)[1] |
| Location | Culemborg and Vianen, Netherlands |
| Type | Fireworks disaster |
| Cause | Undetermined, probably fire |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 20[2] or 30[3] |
| Property damage | 30 buildings damaged or destroyed, c. 4 million guilders (1992)[3] |
The Culemborg fireworks disaster (Dutch: Vuurwerkramp in Culemborg, also known as the Klap van Culemborg "Bang of Culemborg"[3]) occurred on Thursday 14 February 1991 in Culemborg, the Netherlands, on the border with the municipality of Vianen. A storage space for fireworks of the MS Vuurwerk BV company ignited and exploded. There were 2 deaths, 20 or 30 non-fatal injuries and the explosions caused heavy structural damage in a large surrounding area.[2][3]
Although the direct cause of the explosion was never determined, scientists from the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) did find contributing factors which led to such an unexpectedly powerful explosion and so much damage. However, the TNO's recommendations for stricter safety precautions for the production and storage of fireworks have not been carried out, due to fragmented responsibility for fireworks regulations placed in different governmental organisations, and a lack of urgency and resolve amongst the officials involved. The failure to amend policy led to the much larger Enschede fireworks disaster that happened nine years later (13 May 2000).
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
enMercxwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Explosie vuurwerkfabriek Culemborg dreunt 25 jaar later nog altijd na". Omroep Gelderland. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d Bert Determeijer (14 February 1992). "De klap van de vuurwerkfabriek dreunt nog na in Culemborg". NRC Handelsblad. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
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