Explosion in Prvi Partizan ammunition factory earlier this month

Earlier this month an explosion in the Prvi Partizan ammunition factory took six lives. Yahoo reports:

Prvi Partizan is Serbia's largest ammunition factory. It produces military and hunting ammunition as well as gun powder and explosives.

Maric said firefighters had "doused the fires and there is no danger of more explosions." He did not elaborate about the causes of the blast pending the end of the initial investigation.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic was on his way to the site, said a ministry spokeswoman.

Serbian defense industries have stepped up production in past two years, mainly exporting to Iraq, Libya, the United States and Myanmar. The total value of export deals in 2008 exceeded $600 million.

Prvi is notable for being the manufacturer of many obsolete cartridges. This year they started manufacturing the 8mm Lebel, which has not been manufactured by any other factory in the past few decades.

8mm lebel tfb tm Explosion in Prvi Partizan ammunition factory earlier this month photo
8mm Lebel

Thanks to mrwon and Himmel for the info and link.

UPDATE. Sadly the final casualty count was 7 dead and 14 injured.

Thanks Matt for the link.

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Steve Sep 24th 2009 ammunition, news Tags: , , 5 Comments

5 Responses to “Explosion in Prvi Partizan ammunition factory earlier this month”

  1. Chandanon 25 Sep 2009 at 6:59 am link comment

    who the hell buys 8mm lebel the french army huh

  2. Matt Groomon 25 Sep 2009 at 8:11 am link comment

    Later reports indicate that seven were killed and fourteen were seriously injured. http://www.emportal.rs/en/news/serbia/97994.html

  3. Steveon 25 Sep 2009 at 10:23 am link comment

    Chandan, good question. collectors wanting to shoot their 8mm chanbered guns.

  4. Chrison 25 Sep 2009 at 12:42 pm link comment

    Strangely, I just got 200 rounds of Prvi Partizan.303 from Ammunition to Go delivered last night.

  5. Chandanon 25 Sep 2009 at 6:29 pm link comment

    i guess this will make the ammo crunch in the states much more severe now, but which guns are chambered for it currently cause there isn’t any latest weapons using it, the Model 1892 Revolver and Lebel Model 1886 rifle arent used anymore, but it will also put plans of those waiting to use StG 44 in jeopardy cause this factory also produces the 7.92×33mm Kurz.

    I think nearly all ordance plants in developing world including my own have pathetic safety standards.

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