The town of Nováky is commemorating the sad anniversary of the explosion in the local military maintenance company VOP Nováky on March 2, 2007, the SITA newswire wrote. The explosion in the ammunition dismantling hall resulted in eight fatalities.
A few weeks ago the prosecutor's office filed lawsuits against four former members of the management and one security technician. They might spend up to ten years behind bars if they are convicted. The Prievidza District Court is to deal with the case but the date of the first hearing has not been set yet.
The explosion in VOP Nováky on March 2, 2007 claimed eight lives, one employee was seriously injured and twenty suffered less serious injuries. Damages were estimated at €2.24 million. Police accused four managers and one security technician of responsibility for the explosion at that time.
Those who lost their relatives in the explosion claim that safety rules were violated in dismantling and storing ammunition in the company before the explosion. According to analyses of the Defence, Interior and Health Ministries, the company did not have an emergency plan elaborated in line with the law at the time of the explosion. The company currently manufactures bombs and prolongs the lifespan of ammunition. In addition, the company is involved in civilian production; however, it has been hit by the economic crisis. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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