(57) A detonator sensitive, stable water-in-oil or melt-in-oil emulsion explosive comprises an oxidiser containing discontinuous phase, a fuel containing continuous phase, and an emulsifier. To increase the safety of the explosive in flammable atmospheres, such as in coal mines, from 7% to 15% w/w of at least one of the following cooling agents is dissolved in the discontnuous phase: sulphonate, phosphonate, ammonium halide, alkali metal halide, alkaline earth metal halide, or a soluble phosphate salt. Preferably at least 20% of cooling agent is distributed between the continuous and discontinuous phases, with at least about 7% preferably about 12% present in the discontinuous phase.