Explosion in Rome, burst during the lpg exhaust: the images of the firefighters

The explosion took place at 8 and 18 on Friday 4 July in a petrol station at Prenestino. The roof of the structure came 300 meters away. There are 29 wounded between yellow and red codes. First there was a roar, so the first aid arrived and immediately after the second explosion that for the witnesses seemed the outbreak of a bomb. The causes of what happened in via dei Gordiani are still to be clarified: according to the first hypotheses, a truck that had just finished downloading the LPG in the petrol pump would have affected a tube used for unloading. From here the first gas escape would have started. Whoever intervened, policemen and firefighters, was overwhelmed by the second explosion.

There are burned and intoxicated people, but also those who have been affected by debris and splinters who have also arrived hundreds of meters away. Dozens of residents injured in the condominiums on via Balzani. There are hundreds of damaged apartments from which the inhabitants have been removed.

The flames immediately extended to the areas surrounding the petrol pump where there are a deposit of ferrous materials and the parking lot of 118 San Paolo della Croce. Here would have exploded an ambulance with different oxygen cylinders. Some buildings would have oscillated as for an earthquake. There are broken glass and damaged buildings.

The regional director of the Lazio firefighters, Ennio Aquilino spoke of an outbreak “comparable to the explosion of a bomb. After a first intervention for a gas escape, for which the firefighters had arrived in a short time, the explosion arrived ».

The Quaestor of Rome, Roberto Massucci, explained: “The police operators who were carrying out the intervention, like other rescuers, have been invested by the very strong explosion and are now insured to health care in different hospitals, fortunately they are not in danger of life. They were on the spot on the reporting of the problems in the exhaust to secure the area and keep passers -by away. Afterwards there was the main explosion and we had to enlarge the safety device. ” In addition to policemen and firefighters there would be 16 people involved, including the plant manager.

Children were immediately removed from a nearby summer center and from nearby schools where exams and lessons were underway. The prosecutor opened an investigation for culpable fire and serious injuries. At the time of the outbreak, a dense cloud of smoke was raised. The Regional Environmental Protection Company invites you not to open the windows and the use of masks would also be advisable.

Here are the images of the firefighters.