The Small Arms Survey’s database of unplanned explosions at munitions sites (UEMS) shows that nine new incidents occurred during the last quarter of 2012. Three of the events took place in Yemen, two in Lebanon, and one each in Brazil, the Russian Federation, Syria, and the United States. The two UEMS events in Lebanon were in Hezbollah depots. Nineteen incidents were also retroactively added, as new credible sources of information were uncovered.  

UEMS events have been reported in nearly half of the countries of the world over the past 26 years. Each event has the potential to cause severe damage to infrastructure, loss of lives, and disruption of communities. A single unplanned explosion at the munitions site can claim dozens of lives, injure hundreds, and displace thousands of people.   

The Small Arms Survey has produced a historical overview of every known UEMS event dating back to 1987. Thus far the UEMS Database documents 453 events, showing information on the location, causes, and impact for each incident.   

• Visit the updated Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites web page.
• Detailed information on  UEMS Incidents by Year (1987—2012)
• See also Research Note 6: Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (also available in Albanian, BCMS, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Romanian, and Slovenian)
• More information on physical security and stockpile management (PSSM).
• See also the Regional Approach to Stockpile Reduction (RASR) initiative: www.rasrinitiative.org

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