“Dangerous.” It’s the only correct word that explosives expert Ad van Riel can think of when 900 Cobras were found in a house in Veldhoven. If even a single spark had been added, the consequences would have been incalculable.
The news of the gigantic fireworks find no longer surprised even Van Riel. “We hear it every year. But people have no idea how much risk they are taking. Not just for themselves, but for the environment as well.”
Because the power of such an illegal piece of fireworks is immense. “A Cobra 6 with 28 grams of flash powder has the power of a hand grenade. If it explodes while holding it, your hand is gone. And then you should be happy if it stays there. Not to mention a Cobra 8 or 20, with 100 and 200 grams of gunpowder respectively, purely fatal.
Furthermore, it takes very little to turn such a room full of explosives into a disaster area. “Everything with gunpowder is particularly sensitive. To heat, friction, static electricity. It should be stored in bunkers. You don’t have all the security measures there in the house. Quite the contrary.” And so it could have ended much worse in Veldhoven. “It just needed a spark.”
Now in this case it is illegal heavy fireworks. But the allowed jokes and decorative fireworks also carry the necessary risks, says Van Riel. “There is simply no safe fireworks. It remains an explosive substance. And in general we use it when we have been drinking and are with a butt in our mouth. A life-threatening combination.”
If it’s up to the explosives expert, the consumer fireworks will disappear, and today rather than tomorrow. “I think a ban is such a heavy word. We all want to celebrate New Year’s. But find alternatives. Set up a professional fireworks display within the municipality. Or rather: a laser show. Shoot in the air … Then you shouldn’t. not even talk about CO2 and nitrogen “.
The 900 Cobras from the Veldhoven house have now been safely removed. “There are several ways to destroy it,” Van Riel explains. “Usually, water is added and it goes through the shredder. This creates a mixture that can be safely burned.”
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