07:29 AM
A devastating explosion in the ‘El Vaquero’ powder factory in the municipality of Soacha, in Cundinamarca, resulted in the death of one woman and left 34 people injured. The emergency was attended by more than five units of the fire department.
In context: The number of injuries increases to 34 and more than 500 homes are affected by an explosion in a powder factory in Soacha, where a woman died
Paula Ximena Henao, director of the Official Fire Department of Bogotá, reported that “at the request of the Soacha Fire Department, Cundinamarca, and on instructions from Mayor Carlos Galán, Support was provided in extinguishing a fire at a gunpowder company in the neighboring municipality, with firefighters who are experts in Hazardous Materials, controlling the situation in its entirety”.
To facilitate control tasks, the authorities closed the passage that connects the municipality with the capital of the country, which also caused a traffic jam for several hours since The emergency occurred around 4:40 in the afternoon this Wednesday
Aerial images of the site show the magnitude of the damage caused by the explosion.
Regarding the causes of the explosion, a factory worker explained to El Tiempo that The explosion “happened very quickly” and that he managed to save himself by running away after hearing a loud noise and “feeling the smell of burning gunpowder.”
According to the company representative, Some workers reported problems in the gunpowder storage area, according to RCN. Shortly after, A rapid combustion occurred in the area where several flyers were kept. and explosive material, which triggered the explosion.
