Explosion in electrical panel suspected in Perdigão EVA factory fire, injuring three
A fire at an EVA (ethylene-vinyl-acetate) factory in Perdigão, Brazil, on Wednesday afternoon (22) has left three workers in serious condition, according to the Fire Department. The blaze is suspected to have originated from an explosion in an electrical panel that supplied power to hydraulic presses. Approximately 50 employees were on site during the incident, which occurred during a shift change. The three injured workers, who were closest to the equipment, sustained severe burns and were transported to hospitals in Divinópolis, Pará de Minas, and Nova Serrana. One victim, a 27-year-old man, suffered burns to about 80% of his body and is in critical condition. A 41-year-old man sustained burns to 70% of his body, and a 36-year-old man had approximately 30% of his body burned. The fire produced a large, dense black smoke cloud visible from afar. Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames and prevent them from spreading to neighboring properties, a process that continued into Thursday (23). The presence of flammable materials like EVA and diesel fuel within the factory contributed to the intensity of the fire and hampered control efforts. While the company had an approved fire prevention project, the facility had not yet undergone the final inspection for the issuance of the Fire Department's Inspection Certificate (AVCB). The exact cause of the explosion and the fire remains under investigation.
This incident highlights critical safety management considerations within industrial settings, particularly those handling combustible materials. The suspected electrical panel explosion points to potential issues in equipment maintenance, electrical system integrity, or load management. The severity of the injuries underscores the importance of immediate proximity to the ignition source and the rapid spread of fire in environments with high fuel loads. While the factory reportedly had an approved fire prevention plan, the absence of a final inspection certificate suggests a gap in regulatory compliance or operational readiness. Future prevention efforts should focus on robust preventative maintenance schedules for electrical systems, comprehensive risk assessments for material storage, and ensuring all regulatory safety certifications are obtained and maintained to mitigate the likelihood and impact of such industrial accidents.
AI-generated to prompt reflection — not editorial opinion, not advice, not a statement of fact. How this works.