Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS)

The Small Arms Survey defines UEMS as the accidental explosion of abandoned, damaged, improperly stored, or properly stored stockpiles of ammunition and explosives at munitions sites (a detailed definition and classification of UEMS is available here). A single UEMS incident often results in dozens of casualties and millions of dollars' worth of damage to nearby buildings, infrastructure, and homes.

Research conducted by the Survey reveals that these incidents are widespread and increasingly common: in its database, the Survey has recorded 674 incidents between 1979 and December 2024.

The Small Arms Survey continues to maintain its UEMS database on an ongoing basis. To receive the full database of UEMS incidents in Excel format, please contact: media@smallarmssurvey.org.

Check out our latest infographic for a snapshot of the key findings, and navigate our interactive visualization tool below for a quick overview of the whole dataset:

Quick facts on UEMS - January 2025 update

Infographic     |     January 2025

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Interactive Map (January 2025 update)

For more on UEMS, check out our other related outputs below and visit our Resource Library.