An explosion struck in the basement of a gunsmith’s, where the site’s depot and shooting tunnel were also located. A violent deflagration blasted out the windows. One men was killed and another seriously burned. Fire-fighters were able to isolate a few small sources, but the thick black smoke resulting from combustion of the powder hindered access to the basement. The site remained under close watch throughout the night. According to initial findings from the investigation, a client had been trying out a firearm. A stray bullet would have exited the shooting tunnel after perforating an armoured plate, spraying many small pieces of the plate. Some of these fragments ignited fireworks, and the combustion spread to powders located above, gradually making its way to the cans of black powder, which in turn exploded.

Experts insist that depots must not be installed on basement levels, nor should they serve any other uses or contain products other than those specifically designated in their permit. Moreover, better adapted extinction equipment needed to be introduced.