On January 30, 2025, an explosion occurred at the Rheinmetall Expal Munitions factory in Javalí Viejo, near Murcia, Spain, injuring six individuals, one of whom is in serious condition.

The facility, a subsidiary of the German defense company Rheinmetall, specializes in producing artillery, mortar, and medium-caliber ammunition for NATO and international clients.

Concerns regarding the safety of operations at the facility have been raised by local political figures, including Javier Sánchez Serna from Podemos Región de Murcia.

Despite the explosion, Rheinmetall announced that production would not be affected and no downtime is expected.

Rheinmetall has been experiencing record orders and is expanding its operations, including plans for a new facility in Lüneburger Heide, Germany.

The company operates a modern production network across seven sites in Spain and the USA, supplying to over 60 countries, including significant exports to Ukraine.

Local authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion, which remains undetermined, although Rheinmetall has indicated there are no signs of foul play.

The injured individuals, all men, suffered from various injuries such as burns, head trauma, and smoke inhalation, with five transported to hospitals in the regional capital, Murcia.

Emergency services reported that the explosion was linked to a tank explosion that ignited a fire affecting nearby forest areas.

The fire spread over approximately 2,000 square meters but was quickly contained by emergency services.

This incident marks the second explosion at the facility in two years, following a solvent-related explosion in January 2024 that injured two workers.

Rheinmetall has been a crucial military aid provider to Ukraine, supplying various military equipment amidst the ongoing conflict.