Fire at Latvia factory of US drone supplier to Ukraine

Firefighters extinguish the blaze at a factory on the outskirts of Riga run by US firm Edge Autonomy. PHOTO: AFP

RIGA - A fire broke out on Tuesday at a US drone factory in Latvia that has built drones for Ukraine’s military and Nato allies.

Two dozen police cars, nine fire engines and five ambulances deployed to the scene of the fire at the factory run by US firm Edge Autonomy on the outskirts of Latvia’s capital, Riga.

The cause of the blaze was not known but two people were taken to hospital, Latvia’s emergency services tweeted, adding a third person was receiving treatment at the facility site.

“A high-risk fire has occurred in the production building, sparking a lot of smoke,” the fire service said on Twitter, urging local residents to keep their doors and windows closed.

Hours after some 50 firefighters were dispatched to the scene rescue services reported the blaze was under control as police launched an investigation into the incident.

The California-based company produces long-range unmanned aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, according to its website.

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