Explosion of the fireworks factory in Enschede

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clouds of black smoke over Enschede after the explosion of the fireworks factory in May 2000

The explosion at the fireworks factory in Enschede on Saturday 13 May 2000 in the Dutch city of Enschede killed 23 people, injured 947 people and devastated the Roombeek district .

course

At around 3 p.m., the fire brigade received the first emergency call about a fire on the premises of the fireworks factory SE Fireworks in the Roombeek district north of Ensched's city center. To fight the fire, twelve firefighters were initially deployed with a tank fire engine and a turntable ladder, who at first believed they could bring the fire under control at short notice. Since fireworks rockets caught fire at this point in time , shot into the sky and exploded there, numerous onlookers crowded the streets (also helped by the midsummer Saturday afternoon) to watch the unusual spectacle. This scene was captured by some videographers.

At around 3:30 p.m., there was a series of heavy explosions on the site due to fire containers filled with fireworks. The two main explosions, which took place about 60 seconds apart, probably detonated larger amounts of illegally stored so-called salute bombs, which are supposed to achieve pure lightning and detonation effects in a large fireworks display. For this purpose, instead of black powder, they are filled with lightning bolt composition (BKS), which has a considerably greater explosive power . The first explosion had the equivalent of about 800 kg of TNT , the much larger second that of 4000 to 5000 kg of TNT. The pressure wave caused mainly by the second explosion was so strong that the reinforced concrete buildings around the source of the explosion were destroyed down to the foundation walls, rubble flew up to 800 m and window panes broke within 1.5 km. The pressure of the explosion could still be felt 60 km away; the column of smoke over Enschede was visible up to 50 km away. Even the infrasound measuring systems of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources in the Bavarian Forest, around 625 km away from Enschede ( IS26 ), registered the pressure waves of the heavy explosions 36 minutes later.

A total of 177 tons of fireworks exploded. Additional damage was caused by flying fireworks that struck the roofs of the surrounding houses and set them on fire. The neighboring Grolsch brewery also burned out completely. The fire there could be extinguished before it reached the refrigeration systems, which would have released several tons of toxic ammonia . In total, an area of ​​around 5 km² was affected by the damage.

When deployed in Enschede, rescue services and fire brigades from the Borken district and other municipalities supported the Dutch forces. From Germany alone, 200 emergency services with 40 vehicles and eight rescue helicopters were deployed.

Timeline (GMT +1)

event time
Triggering the fire alarm system 15:01
First report of the fire by passers-by 15:02
The first fire engine reaches the scene with a crew of four 15:08
The first ambulance arrives at the scene 15:16
The fire is considered under control 15:27
The first fireworks container explodes and triggers a chain reaction 15:33
First big explosion 15:34
Last devastating explosion 15:35
Disaster plan comes into force 16:15

consequences

Monument in honor of the firefighters
Plaque in memory of the cross-border deployment of German rescue workers from the Borken district

23 people, including four firefighters, were killed as a result of the impact of the pressure wave and fragments of debris flying around. 947 people were injured.

Over 200 houses / apartments were completely destroyed and around 300 declared uninhabitable; a total of around 1,500 houses were damaged. As a result of the destruction, 1,250 people were initially homeless . The insurance damage was estimated at one billion guilders (around 454 million euros ).

The Grolsch brewery then set up a new building on the outskirts of Enschede.

Criminal law processing

On March 4, 2002 the trial for negligent homicide and violation of environmental and safety regulations against two managers (Rudi Bakker and Willie Pater) of the fireworks factory began before the court (Dutch: Rechtbank) in Almelo . On April 2, 2002, both were acquitted for negligent homicide; However, they were each sentenced to six months' imprisonment for not complying with security regulations. For example, the factory only had a license to store and manufacture fireworks up to dangerous goods class 1.3g. However, when a shipment of large fireworks from China was still at sea at the time of the accident, it was found that the company had deliberately circumvented these regulations. The articles were declared as Class 1.4g and 1.3g, but were filled with completely different material and, after tests, were classified as Class 1.2 and 1.1 (capable of mass explosion). Furthermore, storage quantities were exceeded and electrical systems were not properly repaired.

In the second instance before the Court of Appeal (Dutch: Gerechtshof) in Arnhem, both defendants were sentenced to one year imprisonment on May 12, 2003. One of the defendants appealed against that revision (legally correct: Cassation ; Dutch: Cassation) in front of the High Council of the Netherlands (Dutch: Hoge Raad der Nederlanden) in The Hague , which, however, was rejected on 1 February of 2005.

On August 22, 2002 André de Vries, suspected of arson, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Almelo Law Bank. In the second instance, however, de Vries was acquitted on May 12, 2003 by the Arnhem Gerechtshof for lack of evidence. Then de Vries sued the Dutch state for compensation of one million euros. On May 3, 2004, the Gerechtshof, Arnheim, awarded him damages in the amount of € 125,000.

Legal tightening

Shortly after the accident in Enschede, it was suggested at European level to tighten the regulations for the handling and storage of explosives. These discussions, as well as findings from other accidents, then resulted in the amendment of Directive 96/82 / EC (Seveso II Directive) , which came into force on December 31, 2003.

Also as a consequence of the events in Enschede, a discussion began in Germany in spring 2002 about changes to German explosives law. The 2nd SprengÄndG came into force on September 5, 2002.

Improvement of civil protection

In order to be prepared for future accidents of similar magnitude, numerous improvements to the common disaster control were made in the border area. The core element is a cross-border hazard prevention plan in which the German districts of Grafschaft Bentheim and Borken as well as the Dutch regions of Twente and Achterhoek are involved and which was funded by the Euregio . Essential contents are e.g. B. Regulations on the command of operations, communication and supply of emergency services as well as common standards for alarms and technology.

Also because of the Enschede disaster, the independent investigative authority Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid was set up in the Netherlands in 2005 for incidents, accidents and disasters of all kinds.

literature

  • Commissie onderzoek vuurwerkramp: De vuurwerkramp Eindrapport (final report of the commission of inquiry), February 2001, ISBN 90-71082-67-9 . ( Online as PDF , Dutch)

Web links

Commons : Explosion disaster in Enschede  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Archive link ( Memento from March 6, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ↑ cf. Helmut Hetzel: The Enschede disaster: In addition to fear and grief, there is now also anger at the city - arson or pure sloppiness? , in: VDI Nachrichten of May 19, 2000, p. 3.
  3. ↑ feuerwehrmagazin.de: Ten years ago: Disaster in Enschede , accessed on May 11, 2011.
  4. ↑ Spiegel Online : At least 20 dead in explosion in fireworks factory , accessed on May 11, 2011.
  5. ↑ Homepage of the BGR: Special Events - Explosion in Enschede , accessed on July 7, 2011.
  6. ↑ a b https://www.welt.de/welt_print/article3459102/Zoll-beschlagnahmt-240-Tonnen-illegale-Feuerwerkskoerper.html
  7. ↑ https://www.springermedizin.de/das-unglueck-von-enschede-am-13-05-2000/8053270 Congress booklet Preclinical Accident Surgery 2002.
  8. ↑ RTV Oost: Documentaire vuurwerkramp: Terug naar 13 mei 2000 , accessed on May 11, 2016
  9. ↑ FR Online : Giant explosion by mini-bangs , accessed on May 11, 2011.
  10. ↑ Dietrich Eckhardt, Lutz Kuhrt, Hans-Jochen Rodner: schadenprisma.de: Enschede - causes and consequences of the firework disaster ( Memento of 25 October 2014 Internet Archive ), accessed on May 11, 2011th
  11. ↑ Felix Holland: Target audience open-minded people. Grolsch defines buyers of international beers - Germany exports expanded , in: Lebensmittel Zeitung of September 14, 2001, p. 77.
  12. ↑ beck-aktuell dated March 4, 2002: Trial of the Enschede disaster started - indictment confirmed , accessed on May 11, 2011.
  13. ↑ dw-world.de ( memento from July 28, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ), accessed on May 11, 2011.
  14. ^ Judgments of the Almelo legal bank of April 2, 2002, LJN: AE0934 and LJN: AE0935
  15. ↑ Judgments of the Gerechtshof, Arnheim of May 12, 2003, LJN: AF8393 and LJN: AF8394 .
  16. ^ Judgment of the Hoge Raads of February 1, 2005, LJN: AP8469 .
  17. ↑ Handelsblatt : 15 years in prison for arsonists in Enschede , accessed on May 11, 2011.
  18. ↑ Judgment of the Almelo Law Bank of August 22, 2002, LJN: AE6814 .
  19. ^ Judgment of the Gerechtshof, Arnheim, dated May 12, 2003, LJN: AF8395 .
  20. ^ Grafschafter Nachrichten of April 6, 2004: Ex-convict de Vries wants compensation .
  21. ^ Judgment of the Gerechtshof, Arnheim, of May 3, 2004, LJN: AO8765 .
  22. ↑ Ottmar Philipp: Tightening the Seveso Directive , in: EuZW 2002, 579.
  23. ↑ cf. Reasons for decision No. 2 and 5 of the amending directive 2003/105 / EC (PDF) .
  24. ↑ cf. Explanation of the law for the draft of the 2nd Explosive Act, BT-Drs. 14/8771, p. 1.
  25. ↑ beck-current of April 22, 2002: Federal government wants to adapt explosives law to EU requirements , accessed on May 11, 2011.
  26. ↑ Homepage of the Euregio: Cross-border danger prevention plan ( Memento from September 3, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ), accessed on May 11, 2011.
  27. ↑ Grafschafter Nachrichten of January 22, 2005: Help across borders should have a free path .

Coordinates: 52 ° 13 ′ 49 ″  N , 6 ° 53 ′ 36 ″  E