Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS) - consequences and - prevention Blaž Mihelič Blaz.Mihelic@itf-fund.si 6th RASR Workshop Bled, April 3-5, 2013
Agenda UEMS probability and consequences UEMS some examples PSSM at selected UEMS site PES barricade orientation (example) Calling for actions and measures to be taken to prevent UEMS
Statistical data of Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites maintained by SAS Table Number of UEMS by year and casualties, 2002-2011 Years Total Fatalities Injured 2002 20 1182 5787 2003 29 181 322 2004 20 1195 1683 2005 21 108 417 2006 21 54 174 2007 25 169 716 2008 25 55 340 2009 30 67 366 2010 31 148 277 2011 40 383 1944 Grand Total 262 3542 12026 Source: Small Arms Survey Prepared by: Pilar REINA, 10 November 2012.
Number of Exploded Sites is larger than number of UEMS (example Novobohdanivka Ukraine)
UEMS probability estimate by historical model a) there are 193 UN Member States. If it is conservatively assumed that the average of ammunition depots of a significant size in each State is 10, then there are 1,930 significantly sized ammunition depots globally; b) based on experience at least 40% of these depots are not in line with international best practices for explosive safety; and c) there is also documented evidence of an average of 26.2 known UEMS taking place annually over each of the last 10 years (2002 2011 inclusive); the vast majority of which took place where inadequate stockpile management processes were in place. It could therefore be reasonably argued that the annual probability of an undesirable explosive event taking place within an ammunition depot, with inadequate stockpile management systems or processes, is currently approximately: PEvent = (26.2/(193 x 10 x 0.4) = 0.0339 =3.39x10-2 (3.39%)
High probability of UEMS event, high fatality and casualty rates In the period of 2002 to 2012 annually fatality and casualty rates are 354,2 and 1202,6 respectively. For each undesirable explosive event in an ammunition storage area is 13.5 fatalities, witha casualty (injured) rate of 45.9 per explosive event. High probability of UEMS event and high fatality/casualty rates associated with material lost its clear indication on pure AE management system in most of UN countries.
UEMS Risk Index:
QDs and UEMS QD criteria should prevent sympathetic detonation between two PES Only earth covered AE magazines, known as Igloo and U, with adequate door can prevent transmission of explosion from donor PES to receiver PES QD criteria does not prevent transmission (with delay) of explosion from one PES to another PES, like: open stock and light building and light roofs
Some examples of UEMS in Turkmenistan Russia Pugachevo (Izhevsk) Congo-Brazzaville Cyprus Turkey
Turkmenistan A strong explosion occurred Thursday in Turkmenistan stock of arms and ammunition in the city of Abadan, RIA Novosti reported with reference to the Turkmen of Radio Liberty. Abadan (former name - Bezmein) is located 20 kilometers west of the capital, Ashgabat. In Soviet times, Bezmein based aviation garrison, now the city is known as a center of wine production and building materials. According to the Web edition of Turkmen human rights defenders "Chronicles of Turkmenistan", the military stores in Abadan began to explode today at about 4:00 pm local time. According to eyewitnesses, the streets have killed and wounded, instead of some private homes were craters, in many buildings shattered windows. Residents of Abadan, according to "Chronicles of Turkmenistan" can not get through to their loved ones in Abadan. On local television there are no reports about what is happening on all channels are shown music programs
Turkmenistan before UEMS open stock
Turkmenistan after UEMS
Russia Pugachevo (Izhevsk) More than 20,000 people have been evacuated near the Russian city of Izhevsk, after a fire at an arms depot. About 25 people were taken to hospital and hundreds of homes were damaged in the overnight fire, officials said. Shells detonated by the blaze caused windows as far as 10km (6 miles) away to shatter. The arms depot, which stored artillery shells and rockets and and ammunition, is in the Udmurtia region of the western Urals, 900km east of Moscow.
Russia Pugachevo (Izhevsk) storage before UEMS: light magazines
Russia Pugachevo (Izhevsk) storage after UEMS
Russia Pugachevo (Izhevsk) storage after UEMS
Cyprus explosion An explosion has ripped through a naval base in southern Cyprus, killing 12 people, injuring dozens more. Explosion is thought to have been triggered at 6AM when a brush fire set light to containers of confiscated gunpowder that had been stored at the facility. The fire ignited gunpowder stored in containers that Cypriot authorities confiscated in February 2009 from a ship sailing off its coast. The ship had been suspected of carrying the gunpowder from Iran to the Gaza Strip. The intensity of the explosion knocked out the island's largest power plant, caused extensive damage to a neighbouring community, and in a popular holiday resort two miles from the site the windows and doors of restaurants were blown out. "The place looks like it was hit by a massive bomb," a witness told Reuters.
Cyprus military area and power plant
Cyprus: AE containers stored near power plant
Cyprus AE containers before UEMS
Cyprus: crater and damaged power plant after UEMS
Crater and power plant
Congo-Brazzaville On 4 March 2012, a series of blasts occurred at an army arms dump in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. At least 250 people were killed by the explosions. Additional bodies were said to be "unfindable. Among the dead were six Chinese workers from a Beijing Construction Engineering Group work site close to the armory. Interior Minister Raymond Mboulou said that nearby hospitals were overflowing with injuries, with many wounded lying in hallways due to lack of space. Total injures exceeded 2,300. More than 13,800 people were left homeless. One survivor described the event as feeling like "the apocalypse; others described it as "like a tsunami or earthquake.
Congo-Brazzaville PES before UEMS; storage located in the city
Congo-Brazzaville UEMS after explosion
Congo-Brazzaville before UEMS
Congo-Brazzaville after UEMS
Turkey: explosion at military depot in Afyonkarahisar Information of the UEMS event: The explosion occurred at 21:15 local time on 5 September 2012 in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. According to Turkey Armed Forces, 25 servicemen died, four other soldiers and three civilians were injured by the accident Accident happened in uncertain circumstances. One of the potential reasons for the accident is poor ammunition management system. Comments of Turkey gen: The stock check should not have been conducted at night and that the number of soldiers involved in the procedure at Afyonkarahisar seemed to be too high.
Turkey: Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Site (UEMS) in the progress
Ammunition storage in Afyonkarahisar
Ammunition storage in Afyonkarahisar
Turkey: ammunition storage - bunkers are orientated and to close to public road and civilian houses
Some bunkers are facing each other and are very close
Ammunition stockpile management in Afyonkarahisar depot
Ammunition Mismanagement Evidence which can be seen in previous slide Ammunition stock is to high, Unstable stock / stock is under angel, Stock is stick to the wall (no isle), Ammunition boxes are laying on the floor, Boxes are touching ceiling, Ammunition boxes are not palletized, Stock is to close to the entry door, Ammunition boxes are not connected, Ammunition stock list is missing, UN marking system on boxes is missing, Doors are probably not 7 bars certified.
Location of portable AE container example
Portable AE container next to office building Office
View from office to AE container
UEMS is calling for action High probability of UEMS event, High fatality, High casualty rates, High social costs, High cleaning and operation cost, Is calling international community, Governments and MoDs for action in order to improve ammunition management system by reducing probability of UEMS, reducing hazards and consequences.
Measures to be taken to prevent UEMS -! To demilitarize ammunition surplus (to reduce hazard), Bring physical security and stockpile management to reasonable level (earth covered magazines), Make evaluation of existing QDs (re-licensing); make risk assessment for all PES, To develop national policy and organization structure, To harmonize National law, Regulations and Standards with international requirements IATGs, (STANAGs for NATO and PfP members),
Measures to be taken to prevent UEMS 2 To set-up appropriate organization structure: National authority, Inspectorate, ATO, etc. Develop and maintain education and training capabilities (basic and annual) including valid certificates, Maintain ammunition technical database TMs, ammunition yellow book, orange book, MSDS, develop own SOPs etc, To maintain AE surveillance and maintenance system, Along with chain of command to maintain chain of responsibilities.
Thank you for your attention