A powerful explosion in Italy has created a ruckus in Rome. A devastating gas station explosion in southeastern Rome injured 25 people. The explosion at a petrol and LPG station in the Centocelle area of southeast Rome on Friday caused significant damage to nearby buildings and vehicles, as per ANI.
According to PTI, citing the Rome fire brigade, the blast occurred around 8:20 am (local time) during a refuelling operation. Reports further say that the explosion happened because of a technical fault at the gas station. The explosion in the Prenestina area was followed by a fire, causing a blast that was heard in several neighbourhoods across the capital of Italy.
The explosion was heard across the Italian capital shortly after 8 am and sent up a huge cloud of dark smoke and fire that was visible from several areas of the city.
Considering the situation, Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said that local police and firefighters rushed to the area after receiving a report of a gas leak. Two explosions followed after they arrived.
Elisabetta Accardo, who is Rome`s police spokeswoman, highlighted that “16 residents were injured, including two who were in ‘severe conditions’ and hospitalised at Rome`s Casilino hospital.
She further added that “Nine of the injured are from law enforcement corps (police and carabinieri), and one is a firefighter, but luckily they are not in danger, and their medical condition looks fine, as per PTI.
Just a few minutes after the explosion at the gas station, fifteen firefighting teams were at the site trying to bring the fire under control.
Rome prosecutors have also begun a probe into the cause of the explosion, which could be related to a previous gas leak during the unloading phase of liquified petroleum gas at the station, as per PTI.
Acting swiftly, a sports centre located near the gas station was evacuated by police following the first explosion, with several children brought to safety. Police said they checked the surrounding area for people who were injured or trapped in nearby buildings.
Barbara Belardinelli said she and her daughter were slightly injured when they heard the first explosion and left their home to investigate before the next explosion struck them.
She added, “As soon as we heard the second explosion, we were also hit by a ball of fire. I thought that a car near us exploded; metal fragments were flying in the air.”
While expressing her experience with the explosion, she said, “We felt the fire on the skin; the arm of my daughter is still red. It was horrible.”
Other residents interviewed by local media said the explosion was so loud and violent it struck nearby buildings ‘like an earthquake breaking windows and ripping off shutters.’
However, Pope Leo XIV said he was praying for those affected by the explosion, which happened ‘in the heart of my Diocese.’
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also said that she was closely following the developments.
(With PTI Inputs)