Military Repair Company Nováky blast victims remembered

Secretary General of the MOD Service Office Peter Kozák today paid tribute to the victims of one of the most tragic industrial incidents in the history of Slovakia – the explosion in the munitions decommissioning facility at Military Repair Company Nováky. The 2 March 2007 tragedy claimed the lives of eight employees and another 60 sustained light or serious injuries.

Speaking at the Nováky Tragedy Memorial, Secretary General of the MOD Service Office Peter Kozák said: “Even 16 years on, our hearts will never fill the void left by the loss of the relatives of the bereaved families and our colleagues. We remember them with our gratitude and respect, and we vow never to forget them.”

A series of detonations rocked the Military Repair Company's munitions decommissioning facility, shattering windows within the radius of 12km from the site and leaving behind a 20-metre explosion crater. Immediately after the disaster, the MOD adopted extra safety precautions to minimise potential risks and failures, as well as putting stricter procedures and standards for handling munitions and the service life of munitions in place.