Explosion at Petrol Station in Rome Leaves Dozens Injured

A massive gas explosion at a petrol station in Rome on Friday has injured at least 40 people, two of whom are in serious condition, including police and firemen who were responding to an initial smaller explosion triggered by a truck hitting a gas pipe. The second blast, located in northeast Rome, was heard across the entire Italian capital, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky visible from various parts of the city. Witnesses reported a chaotic scene as residents were caught off guard by the sudden explosion, which led to flying shards of glass injuring numerous people. Among those injured was a man who was pulled from a burning car and is currently in serious condition. Medical sources have confirmed that while some individuals remain in serious condition, others are not in life-threatening situations. Fabio Balzani, manager of a nearby summer camp, mentioned that the timing of the explosion was fortunate, noting it had occurred early in the day. "If it had happened an hour later, it would have been a massacre; there would have been 60 children from the summer camp and 120 at the swimming pool," he said. Fortunately, the camp's early attendees were evacuated promptly when they detected the initial smell of gas. "At the first hints of smoke around 7:30 AM, we evacuated the children; there were eight of them. The parents have arrived, and the kids are all fine," Balzani added. The damage has left the sports center looking like a battlefield, with significant destruction reported. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has been in close communication with Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri to monitor responses to the incident. Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV expressed his prayers for the victims throughout the ordeal. In response to the incident, Rome prosecutors have opened an investigation, and environmental group Legambiente has called for reconsideration of petrol and gas station placements within urban areas to enhance safety, especially amid the extreme summer heat. Lazio Regional Firefighters Chief Ennio Aquilino indicated that the explosion was a result of a glitch in the gas plant. After the first gas leak was reported, firefighters rushed to the scene, only to be met by the larger blast minutes later. Describing the experience, a Carabiniere who assisted in rescuing a petrol safety officer stated, "It was like a bomb going off. We were thrown twice during the two large explosions. When I got up, flames prevented us from seeing, but I managed to see a man next to his car that was on fire after the explosion. He was lying on the ground with burns all over his body, engulfed in flames but still alert, albeit in shock. We immediately helped him and took him to the hospital, even though the ambulance was on fire." Despite the chaos, the emergency responders remained committed to assisting others, as they returned to help additional victims in the aftermath of the explosions. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2