Big Blast at Rome Petrol Station Hurts 45
Rome: A massive gas explosion at a petrol station in Rome injured 45 people, two seriously, including policemen, firemen, and other rescue workers who had responded to an initial slightly smaller explosion after a truck hit a gas pipe. The second blast in the northeast of Rome was heard all over the Italian capital, spreading fear among many Romans who thought a bomb had gone off, and a thick plume of smoke was also visible from all parts.
According to Ansa News Agency, the 45 people were treated in nine Rome hospitals, including local residents who were injured by flying shards from broken windows. Six of the injured are in code red, medical sources said, and two of these are on life support. The pair have burns on 55% and 25% of their bodies, as well as inhalation damage and a ‘barotrauma’ caused by the huge air displacement of the blast. Of the 45 hurt, 24 are civilians, 12 police officers, six firemen, and three emergency crew operators.
The manager of a nearby summer camp expressed relief that the blast occurred so early in the day, averting a potential tragedy. Fabio Balzani stated that the early-bird users and first children had been promptly evacuated when the first gas smell was detected. “At the first hints of smoke around 7:30, we evacuated the children, there were 8 of them,” he said. “The parents have arrived, the kids are all fine. If it had happened an hour later, it would have been a massacre.”
Premier Giorgia Meloni confirmed that she was in close contact with Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri to monitor the situation following the accident. Pope Leo XIV also expressed his prayers for the victims. Rome prosecutors have launched a probe into the incident, and about 50 people were evacuated after the larger blast.
Environmental group Legambiente has advocated for fewer petrol and gas stations to be located in cities to enhance safety, particularly during the hot summer months. According to the Business and Made in Italy Ministry website, Rome has 862 petrol and gas stations, of which 109 distribute Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Lazio Regional Firefighters’ Chief Ennio Aquilino described the explosion as due to a glitch in the gas plant. “After a first intervention for a gas leak, for which firefighters rushed to the site, the big blast came. It was like a bomb going off.”
Carabiniere officer Gregorio Assanti recounted how he and his team rescued the petrol safety officer from a blazing car, despite being thrown back twice during the two large explosions. The injured man was transported to the hospital in a patrol car after the ambulance caught fire.
Health authorities have warned locals about the risks of exposure to Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). The Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA) highlighted that inhaling LPG in high concentrations could lead to severe health issues, including asphyxiation. Direct contact with the cryogenic liquid can cause cold burns and serious skin lesions, SIMA warned.