Rome Gas Station Blast Claims Life of Critically Injured Man

Rome: A man who was critically injured in last Friday’s gas station explosion in Rome has died, medical sources said Tuesday. The man, Claudio Ercoli, suffered burns on 55% of his body in the blast in northeastern Rome, which injured 45 people, two critically, and spread fear across the capital.

According to Ansa News Agency, Rome prosecutors may now file charges of culpable negligent manslaughter in their probe into the incident. The explosion was caused when a truck hit a gas pipe, triggering two blasts. The second and larger explosion affected firefighters, police, and rescue workers who had responded to the initial blast.

Local residents were also injured by flying glass from blown-out windows during the incident. The second critically injured man suffered burns on 25% of his body and remains on life support.