A tremor in the earth. That’s how many remember the day Ilha do Boqueirão changed forever. It was July 16 1995. A massive explosion ripped through the island. The resulting shockwave shattered windows across Guanabara Bay. The Ilha do Boqueirão was then and is now a military island. It housed the Navy’s ammunition depot. This wasn’t the first time the island witnessed such drama.
Ilha do Boqueirão didn’t start as a military base. Initially called Ilha dos Coqueiros it was a coconut plantation. Planted in 1822 with trees from Brazil’s Northern region. It belonged to Ezequiel da Rocha Freire. After his death in 1867 his widow sold it to the Ministry of War in 1872. The Ministry needed space. The existing powder magazine in Fortaleza de São João on Inhomirim island was full. So the powder magazine was built on Ilha do Boqueirão. Opened in 1874 it later became part of the Brazilian Navy in 1909. The Navy also established the Arsenal’s Artillery Directorate there.
The island’s history is marked by violence. During the 1911 Revolta da Chibata several rebels were executed on Ilha do Boqueirão. This followed similar executions during the Revolta da Armada. The 1995 explosion though was different. It injured about 60 people. Panic spread through Rio de Janeiro. The explosions’ cause remained unclear. It could have been sabotage. Or a storage error. Maybe even a construction defect. Regardless it remains a stark reminder of the island’s volatile past.
Today Ilha do Boqueirão remains under the exclusive control of the Brazilian Navy. Local fishermen however still work around it. They benefit from the abundant fish attracted by food scraps thrown into the water by sailors. It’s a quiet existence. A stark contrast to the island’s explosive history. Ilha do Boqueirão stands as a silent testament. A symbol of both military might and unexpected catastrophe. Its story continues to echo through the waters of Guanabara Bay. A reminder of a place where serenity and danger coexist.