Czech Republic, Munitions warehouse explosion

On 25 March, a large explosion occurred in a munitions warehouse at the Poličské strojírny plant in the Svitavy district of the Czech Republic. The incident occurred at approximately 9 a.m., and preliminary findings suggest that a technical malfunction in one of the production halls may have been the cause. One individual sustained serious injuries in the explosion and was airlifted to a hospital in Olomouc for treatment. Emergency services quickly dispatched 11 fire units to the scene, evacuated the area and blocked off several roads. The Poličské strojírny facility is part of the STV Invest holding company, which is based in the Czech Republic and specialises in the production of large-calibre ammunition, repairs of military equipment and the supply of various spare parts. Local authorities continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with emergency response teams. The factory is expected to make a statement in the coming days, but has not yet commented on the cause or further details of the damage. Similar incidents occurred in 2014 in eastern Czech Republic, where two explosions at ammunition depots resulted in fatalities.