 The site of the magazine | |
| Date | 18 July 1806 |
|---|---|
| Time | 06:15 |
| Location | Birgu, Malta Protectorate |
| Coordinates | 35°53′09″N 14°31′19″E / 35.88583°N 14.52194°E |
| Type | Gunpowder magazine explosion |
| Cause | Negligence |
| Deaths | c. 150–240 |
| Non-fatal injuries | c. 100 |
| Property damage | £35,000 (c. 1806), £3,212,222.22 (incl. inflation up to 2020) |
On 18 July 1806, approximately 40,000 lb (18,000 kg) of gunpowder stored in a magazine (polverista) in Birgu, Malta, mistakenly detonated. The explosion killed an estimated 200 people, including British and Maltese military personnel, and Maltese civilians from Birgu. Parts of the city's fortifications, some naval stores, and many houses were destroyed. The accident was found to be the result of negligence while transferring shells from the magazine.