30/08/2024 Updated yesterday at 23:24|Source: ČTK, ČT24
Events: Pyrotechnicians detonated an aerial bomb near Litvínov (source: ČT24)
The demanding three-day measures paid off, said Karel Čadil, director of the Pyrotechnic Service of the Police of the Czech Republic, adding that the disposal of an aerial bomb from the Second World War in the premises of the chemical plant near Litvínov did not require any major damage. The explosion occurred at 12:13 p.m. and the controlled detonation resulted in no injuries. Shortly after 1 p.m., the police resumed traffic between Most and Litvínov, which had been stopped since 11 a.m. due to the disposal of the bomb. Workers are heading to the plant site to inspect the equipment so that operations can resume as quickly as possible. The estimate is a few days.
Briefing on the disposal of the aerial bomb in Záluží (source: ČT24)
“Within an hour we could start reducing the measures. The outer perimeter was canceled and the communication was put into operation,” Klíma pointed out. The firefighting units started to return to the bases after the inspection.
Pyrotechnicians detonated an aerial bomb from the Second World War near Litvínov (source: ČT24)
Orlen company spokesman Pavel Kaidl thanked the members for the professionally executed intervention. “After 2 p.m., employees enter the premises and begin inspecting the infrastructure so that operations can be resumed as quickly as possible,” he said, adding that the damage would be high. “Just to be able to borrow fuel from the state, it cost us less than two billion crowns,” he said, adding that the company would calculate the damages.
“We will have more information when we fill individual technologies with industrial gases. Then we can detect some leaks,” Kaidl said. The inspection process at the chemist is estimated to take a few days, it will be extended in case of any damage.
ČT24 interview: Director of the Pyrotechnic Service of the Police of the Czech Republic about the detonation of a bomb near Litvínov (source: ČT24)
Around 1:00 p.m., the firemen informed via SMS that the danger had passed after the controlled explosion. At 1:15 p.m., the ban on entering the dangerous area was also lifted. “There is no longer any danger,” he said the X network Fire Rescue Corps of the Czech Republic. There are cars, buses, trains and trams between the cities.
GALERIE
Disposal of a bomb in the chemical area near Litvínov
Security perimeter
Journalists who were at the border of the security perimeter two kilometers from the site of the discovery heard the explosion shortly after noon. Smoke could be seen rising towards the chimney in the chemist’s shop. The police on the X network then published i snapshot surroundings after the explosion. “It is still true that even after a visual inspection at the site, no major damage is apparent. The Puma was safely destroyed,” the police wrote immediately after the explosion.
Disposal of a bomb in the chemical area near Litvínov (source: ČT24)
During the week, pyrotechnicians built a wall of 440 sandbags and another belt with 180 sandbags around the British aerial bomb from the Second World War. They built 120 heavy concrete blocks, each weighing roughly 1,800 kilograms, in front of the chemical storage tanks. There were three pyrotechnicians and five firefighters on the scene, who were at a distance of 300 to 500 meters from the bomb.
At the morning press conference, Kaidl already thanked all units – the police, firefighters and the entire integrated rescue system for their professional work. He also thanked the Ministry of Industry and Trade for their help. According to him, the company has had an extraordinary ten days.
Press conference on the disposal of the bomb in the chemical complex near Litvínov (source: ČT24)
The chemical production complex Chempark Záluží is the largest in the Czech Republic and belongs to Orlen Unipetrol. It is home to several dozens of important chemical and service companies, and around 6,500 employees from 180 companies move around every day.
A British Second World War flying bomb was found by excavation workers last week. Due to the danger of a spontaneous explosion, the found ammunition was not allowed to move until 1 pm on Tuesday. The company Orlen Unipetrol stopped production at the neighboring refinery after the discovery of the puma last Wednesday. Because of this, the petrochemical part of the plant lost raw materials, which is why the company also started decommissioning the ethylene unit a week ago.
Events, comments: Historian Jiří Rajlich about the flying cougar (source: ČT24)
