WARSAW — 1979 · Major Tragedy
The Rotunda PKO Explosion
Around midday on 15 February 1979 a powerful explosion tore through the "Rotunda" branch of the PKO bank at the junction of Marszałkowska Street and Aleje Jerozolimskie in central Warsaw. About 170 staff and 300 customers were inside; 49 people were killed and 135 injured. More than 2,000 people took part in a rescue operation that lasted six days. Officially the disaster was blamed on a gas leak, but in the censored climate of the time rumours of a bombing circulated for years. The building reopened that October. It is remembered as post-war Warsaw's worst disaster.
- Date
- 1979
- Place
- Masovia, Poland, Warsaw, PL
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 52.2310, 21.0120 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 15 February 1979An explosion ripped through the Rotunda branch at midday.
- 15-21 February 1979A rescue operation involving over 2,000 people lasted six days.
- 1979The official account blamed a gas leak; bomb rumours persisted.
- October 1979The rebuilt branch reopened.
Sources
- Wikipedia — 1979 Warsaw gas explosion en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Wikipedia (PL) — Wybuch gazu w Rotundzie PKO w Warszawie pl.wikipedia.org ↗
- Beautiful Warszawa — PKO Rotunda incident beautifulwarszawa.home.blog ↗
- Wikipedia (EN/PL)
- Beautiful Warszawa
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.