If you heard a loud bang like an explosion around noon today, or saw a column of black smoke over the city — it was the Slovnaft oil refinery (Slovnaft) on fire. Briefly for Bratislava residents: no casualties, the fire has been contained. But the neighboring village of Rovinka advises limiting outdoor activities if you smell something or see smoke.
The incident happened on Friday, August 7, shortly after noon. Witnesses reported a loud sound around 1:40 PM — windows in houses were shaking from it. Thick black smoke was visible from different parts of the city: it stretched toward the Petržalka district and in the direction of Austria, wrote witnesses on social media.
What happened at the plant
According to the Slovnaft press service (Slovnaft), the fire was caused by a breach in one of the storage tanks for petroleum products — after which the contents ignited. The plant spokesman Anton Molnár clarified: it was a double-walled tank that meets the strictest safety requirements. It burned in isolation — the tank was not active, and no work was being done on it.
The fire did not spread to neighboring tanks or other facilities, and production at the plant was not stopped. The fire was extinguished by Slovnaft's own fire brigade (Slovnaft) — the state HaZZ service was not involved because the incident happened on the territory served by the plant's unit. The exact cause of the tank damage is still to be determined by an investigation.
Is there danger for residents
The Bratislava city districts Ružinov and Podunajské Biskupice, where the plant is located, monitored the situation and did not record any problems. But the village of Rovinka, which borders the plant, published several recommendations for residents. They will also be useful for Bratislava residents if smoke or smell is noticeable in your area:
- limit outdoor activities, especially if you smell something or see smoke;
- close windows and turn off ventilation that draws air from outside;
- pay extra attention to children, elderly people, and those with respiratory diseases;
- follow announcements from local authorities and rescue services.
As of the evening, the fire is almost extinguished, the site is barely smoking, and the situation is stabilized.
Why the incident caused a reaction
The public association Znepokojené matky (Concerned Mothers) has already stated: the fire once again showed the risks of plans to build a waste incineration plant on the Slovnaft territory (Slovnaft), since large amounts of flammable substances are stored nearby, writes HNonline. This discussion will continue — we will follow the development of events.
