Lorraine Williamson
A fatal explosion at a family-run pyrotechnics company in Bergüenda (Lantarón, Álava) has left one worker dead and another critically injured, in an incident that shook the municipality on Monday morning and triggered a large emergency response.
The blast happened at the FML pyrotechnics company at around 11.00–11.10 am (timings vary slightly by report), with the Ertzaintza confirming the alert and emergency crews moving in quickly. The seriously injured worker was airlifted by Osakidetza helicopter to Hospital de Cruces in Barakaldo, with burns to at least 60% of the body, according to reports.
What happened and what officials say so far
Early reporting indicates the explosion occurred in a work shed/caseta de labor, not in the main storage area for pyrotechnic material — a detail highlighted by Lantarón mayor Koldo Salbidea in comments carried by Spanish media.
Police, firefighters, and medical teams attended the scene, and the site was cordoned off while inspections and the initial investigation began.
Salbidea also said the firm’s safety protocols appeared to have been in place and that technicians were investigating the cause of the deflagration. Spanish reports say the municipality has declared three days of official mourning following the worker’s death.
A local company with a long history
FML is described in reporting as a family business with roots going back to 1875, manufacturing products such as rockets, flares, torches, and firecrackers. The mayor said the company is small, with only a handful of staff.
That makes the impact even sharper for a place like Lantarón, where an incident of this kind is not only an industrial accident but a community tragedy.
Why this story may continue to develop
At this stage, the key unanswered question is the cause of the explosion. Officials and technicians are investigating, and further details may emerge on the sequence of events inside the work area and any technical or operational factors involved.
For now, the confirmed facts are clear: one person has died, another remains in a critical condition, and the investigation is underway.
Formal investigation
The next phase will centre on the formal investigation and any updates on the injured worker’s condition. For local residents, however, the immediate reality is simpler and more painful: a long-established business has become the scene of a fatal workplace blast.