Montebello Distillery Explosion in Guadeloupe Injures Five Seriously

A boiler explosion ripped through the Montebello rum distillery in Petit‑Bourg, Guadeloupe, at about 08:30 local time on Friday (14:30 Paris). Five people suffered severe burns and fractures, with one victim placed in cardio‑respiratory arrest before being revived. Twelve other persons on the site were reported as shocked but unharmed.

Around 20 firefighters responded, a crisis cell was activated, and a psychological support unit was opened for workers. The blast caused no subsequent fire, and production at the historic distillery—founded in 1930 and one of the island’s oldest—was halted. The site lies roughly 45 km from the capital Basse‑Terre.

Authorities are assessing the cause of the explosion and providing assistance to the injured.