Explosion and Major Fire at CET Vest Thermal Power Plant in Bucharest on April 20, 2026: No Casualties

Late on Monday evening, April 20, 2026, a powerful explosion occurred in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, followed by a large-scale fire at the CET Vest thermal power plant (TPP). This was reported by Hot News, citing «European Pravda».

According to the Department for Emergency Situations (ISU), the fire started with two electrical transformers and subsequently spread to a third. The main challenge for rescuers was the burning of 30 tons of fuel oil stored at the facility. Due to the incident, a brief voltage drop was observed in Bucharest.

Raed Arafat, head of the State Emergency Service, reported that about ten special vehicles were working at the scene. Firefighters were forced to operate in dangerous conditions without the assistance of specialized robots, as they were undergoing maintenance. Arafat clarified that there was no risk of explosion for the firefighters, and the main task was to bring the burning fuel oil under control. By 1 AM, firefighters managed to contain the spread of the fire and began cooling operations in the incident area.

There were no casualties as a result of the fire. The RO-Alert civil alert system was not activated because the facility is located at a significant distance from residential buildings, and the smoke density was not critical. Electricity supply directly to the TPP was disconnected to ensure the safety of operations. The causes of the explosion will be determined after the fire is fully extinguished.