Over 40 people were injured following a blast at a petrol station in Rome, Italy on 4 July. The incident happened at a site in the Prenestino neighbourhood after a tanker struck a pipe, causing a gas leak. The explosion occurred while emergency services were arriving at the scene to help contain the leak.
Local officials said that an initial explosion occurred at around 08:00 local time after the gas leak ignited. A much larger blast then occurred which destroyed much of the petrol station and sent debris flying. In total, 45 people suffered injuries including several emergency service personnel.
Footage taken at the scene by Italy’s fire department, Vigili del Fuoco, shows the charred remains of the petrol station as firefighters attempt to extinguish a blaze. Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri told local media that at least 21 emergency service workers had been injured and that two men were in life threatening conditions after suffering burns.
Gualtieri added that the incident could easily have become a “catastrophe” had it happened a short while later. Around 60 children were due to attend a summer camp later in the morning at a sports centre next to the petrol station. Part of the sports centre was destroyed by the explosion while debris was scattered across the site, including the swimming pool.
Vigili del Fuoco said in a statement that 15 of its teams had attended the site and managed to bring the area under control and extinguish several small fires. A helicopter was used to help monitor th sit for potential hotspots.
