Several people have been left injured after an explosion rocked a petrol station in Via dei Gordiani, in Prenestino, Rome, Italy today
This is the terrifying moment a petrol station erupted in a devastating explosion in Rome this morning.
It’s understood the explosion happened at a station in the Prenestino area of the Italian capital, with local media reporting several injuries in the aftermath of the blast.
The blast – which was heard across the capital – is thought to have left at least 21 people, including a firefighter and police officer, injured, according to initial reports.
Terrifying new footage shows the moment the explosion let out an almighty “bang”, shaking the city as the fuel erupted into an enormous mushroom cloud over the eastern district.
Horns are heard blaring as a state of chaos ensues and locals desperately scramble to escape.
Firefighters were called to a petrol station on Via dei Goridani this morning after receiving reports of a truck hitting a pipeline, Sky News Italy reports.
While they were working, a tanker exploded – with the crews on site hit with the force of the blast.
As it stands, 21 people have been injured – including eight police officers, a firefighter and an emergency services operator.
One local resident claims to have been awoken by the sound of the blast. They told Italian outlet La Repubblica: “I woke up with a start, I heard a very loud explosion, it sounded like a bomb.”
“We didn’t understand what it was, all the glass shook. It could have been a bomb, an earthquake, we didn’t understand. Then from the smoke, we realized it was an explosion,” Francesco, a resident of a nearby building, told Il Messaggero.
Another believed the sound came from “an earthquake” after “all the windows” in their building started shaking.
The petrol station is situated in a populated residential area and sits close to a nursery and sports club, according to Italian daily, Corriere.
The newspaper added that witnesses reported seeing a fire first, before hearing two almost consecutive explosions – the second of which was the most powerful.
Initial reports suggest the victims miraculously survived without sustaining serious injuries. The nearby nursery, Villa De Sanctis, had just started the school day with 15 children in at the time. Thankfully, they were unharmed and the school was evacuated as a precaution.
The Vigili del Fuoco fire brigade has issued a statement, saying: “Roma, explosion at a fuel station in via dei Gordiani, Casalino area: one of the firefighters involved.
“Teams are working to extinguish the flames affecting the judicial depot at the back of the refueling station. Several injured people have been assisted.
“Operation in progress, 10 teams at work.”
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