We review the spectroscopic evidence for explosive events, hereafter referred to as bursts, occurring in solar coronal plasmas. Problems in the interpretation of extreme ultraviolet spectra from Mg-like ions, particularly Fe XV in solar flares can be obviated to certain extent if these ions are produced in an ionizing plasma, with the 3s3p 3 P levels being excited directly by inner shell ionization of the Al-like ion. We believe that a similar mechanism should apply to Be-like ions