Cali explosion
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 | |
| Native name | Explosión de Cali |
|---|---|
| Date | August 7, 1956 |
| Location | Cali, Colombia |
| Deaths | c. 4,000 |
| Non-fatal injuries | c. 12,000 |
The Cali Explosion occurred on 7 August 1956, in downtown Cali, Colombia. It was caused by the explosion of seven army ammunition trucks loaded with 1,053 boxes of dynamite, which were parked in Cali overnight. In 1956, the city of Cali had around 400,000 inhabitants.[1] More than 1,300 died from the explosion, and another 4,000 were wounded.[2][3] Some estimates go as high as 4,000 deaths and 12,000 injuries.[4]
Seven army trucks, loaded with 1,053 boxes of dynamite, came from Buenaventura and were parked in an old railway station. The explosion occurred in the early hours of the morning - destroying 41 blocks and leaving a crater 50 meters wide and 25 meters deep. The blast destroyed buildings, homes and businesses, killing more than 1,300 people and injuring more than 4,000.[2] Six districts were affected: San Nicolás, El Porvenir, El Hoyo, El Piloto, Fátima and Jorge Isaacs.[4]
The blast caused an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.3. The noise was heard in Buga, Palmira, Santander de Quilichao, Caloto and Jamundí.
Hypotheses at the time for the explosion include trucks overheating or a soldier accidentally firing his gun. The incident occurred while Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was president. He attributed the tragedy to the opposition, who had recently signed the Benidorm covenant.[citation needed]