Date: May 3, 2021
Location: Klaipeda (Lithuania)
Address: Liepų st. 68, 92100
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Wood Dust
Industry: Wood Processing (Wood and Wood Products)
Equipment: Unknown
Company: Vakaru Medienos Grupe
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: Seven Injured, One Fatality
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, Vakaru Medienos Grupe is one of the largest wood processing and furniture production groups in the Baltic region. It is headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania and its product output includes sawn timber, wood pellets, solid wood furniture, particle board, and finished chipboard.
Incident Description:
On May 4, 2021, HazardEx reported an explosion and fire at a wood processing facility in Klaipeda, Lithuania.
Firefighters went to the scene after receiving reports of a fire at around 12:30 p.m. According to Delfi.en, the incident occurred in the particleboard production building. A biological treatment building collapsed and 28 people were evacuated before the fire was brought under control at 3:00 p.m.
Eight people were injured and taken to the hospital. According to LRT.it, five of them required intensive care and two were in serious condition with burn injuries.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. This YouTube shows the explosion as it occurs.
Incident Update: On May 20, 2021, LRT.it reported that one of victims died from their injuries.
Sources:
HazardEx
Delfi.en
LRT.it (May 3)
LRT.it (May 4)
YouTube
