Mihăileşti explosion
Encyclopedia
The Mihăileşti explosion occurred on the 24th of May 2004 in the village of Mihăileşti
, Buzău County
, Romania
. A truck
loaded with ammonium nitrate rolled over and caught fire, and one hour later exploded killing 18 people.
At 4:57 AM local time, a truck loaded with 20 tons of ammonium nitrate rolled over on the express road E85
connecting Bucharest
with Moldavia
. Soon after the accident, the truck caught fire, so the driver immediately called the emergency number. Two fire trucks arrived at the scene 20 minutes later and started putting out the fire. A TV crew
also arrived and started filming for the news
. Villagers gathered around the accident site.
At 5:47 AM, a small explosion
took place in the cabin of the truck, followed 2 minutes later by a larger explosion, killing 7 firefighters, the tv crew, several villagers. and the truck driver, totaling 18 people. 13 others were injured.
Of the 18 killed, 2 people (the truck driver and one of the firefighters) had to be identified by means of DNA testing. The explosion left behind a 6,5 m deep crater
, scattered human remains and debris over a several hundred meters radius and caused damage amounting to about 70,000 euros.
Following this event, the safety regulations regarding the transport of chemical substance
s were improved and ammonium nitrate was listed as dangerous chemical compound
. The director of the Doljchim plant, which produced the ammonium nitrate, and the managers of the two companies involved in the transport of this substance without safety measures were found guilty of homicide by negligence
, destruction of property and sentenced to 4 years in jail
as well as the payment of compensation
s to the victims' families.
Mihailesti
Mihăileşti is a town located in Giurgiu County, Romania. It administers three villages: Drăgănescu, Novaci and Popeşti.Popeşti village is the location of an important archeological discovery: a large Dacian settlement believed by some historians such as Vasile Pârvan and professor Radu Vulpe to be...
, Buzău County
Buzau County
Buzău is a county of Romania, in the historical region Muntenia, with the capital city at Buzău.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 496,214 and the population density was 81/km².*Romanians – 97%*Roma – under 3% declared, and others....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. A truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
loaded with ammonium nitrate rolled over and caught fire, and one hour later exploded killing 18 people.
At 4:57 AM local time, a truck loaded with 20 tons of ammonium nitrate rolled over on the express road E85
European route E85
European route E 85 is part of the International E-road network, which is a series of main roads in Europe.The E 85 starts from Klaipėda runs south through Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria to Greece, ending at Alexandroupolis....
connecting Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
with Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
. Soon after the accident, the truck caught fire, so the driver immediately called the emergency number. Two fire trucks arrived at the scene 20 minutes later and started putting out the fire. A TV crew
Television crew
Television crew positions are derived from those of film crew, but with several differences.-Pre-production:-Casting Director:-Costume designer:-Director:* Associate Director -Location Manager:-Make-up artist:...
also arrived and started filming for the news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
. Villagers gathered around the accident site.
At 5:47 AM, a small explosion
Explosion
An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high temperatures and the release of gases. An explosion creates a shock wave. If the shock wave is a supersonic detonation, then the source of the blast is called a "high explosive"...
took place in the cabin of the truck, followed 2 minutes later by a larger explosion, killing 7 firefighters, the tv crew, several villagers. and the truck driver, totaling 18 people. 13 others were injured.
Of the 18 killed, 2 people (the truck driver and one of the firefighters) had to be identified by means of DNA testing. The explosion left behind a 6,5 m deep crater
Explosion crater
An explosion crater is a characteristically shaped hole formed when material is ejected from the surface of the ground by an explosive event just above, at, or below the surface....
, scattered human remains and debris over a several hundred meters radius and caused damage amounting to about 70,000 euros.
Following this event, the safety regulations regarding the transport of chemical substance
Chemical substance
In chemistry, a chemical substance is a form of matter that has constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. It cannot be separated into components by physical separation methods, i.e. without breaking chemical bonds. They can be solids, liquids or gases.Chemical substances are...
s were improved and ammonium nitrate was listed as dangerous chemical compound
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
. The director of the Doljchim plant, which produced the ammonium nitrate, and the managers of the two companies involved in the transport of this substance without safety measures were found guilty of homicide by negligence
Negligent homicide
Negligent homicide is a criminal charge brought against people who, through criminal negligence, allow others to die.Negligent Homicide is a lesser included offense to first and second degree murder, in the sense that someone guilty of this offense can expect a more lenient sentence, often with...
, destruction of property and sentenced to 4 years in jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
as well as the payment of compensation
Compensation
Compensation can refer to:*Financial compensation, various meanings*Compensation , various advantages a player has in exchange for a disadvantage*Compensation *Compensation , by Ralph Waldo Emerson...
s to the victims' families.