Italy: Petrol station explosion leaves two dead

An explosion on a highway service station in central Italy has left two dead and at least 17 others injured after a fuel tanker exploded, reports The Local.

Near Borgo Quinzio, around 40 kilometres north-east of Rome, a firefighter and another person were reported dead after a fuel tanker exploded in a petrol station at around 2PM on Wednesday.

The tragedy was caused by two fires at the site – the first began at the depot of the petrol station while the second, more devastating, affected the fuel tanker supplying the fuel and injured firefighters trying to put out the initial fire.

The firefighter that died was off duty but stopped to assist his colleagues when passing by in his car.  The Italian fire service spoke of the "endless pain" they were suffering from the loss.

The blast originated when the fuel tanker was unloading gas at the site.

Here is a video of the aftermath of the explosion uploaded by the Polizia di Stato.

Discuss