A powerful explosion shook the Prenestino neighborhood in southeastern Rome on Friday morning, leaving at least 27 people injured, including 11 members of the police, Carabinieri, and firefighters who replied to the scene after an emergency call. Of those injured, two are in serious condition, according to official sources.
The blast, which occurred around 8:00 a.m. local time, was so intense that it was heard throughout nearly the entire city. Initial investigations indicate that a truck may have struck a fuel pipe, causing a leak and subsequently the explosion while firefighters were already in the area attempting to secure it.
After the initial blast, there were additional smaller explosions, generating a dense column of black smoke visible from several points in Rome and a large fire that reached nearby structures. The flames were brought under control after several hours of intense work by 10 fire crews, who also had to evacuate a sports center and two nearby residential buildings as a precaution.
RAI reported that Sant’Eugenio Hospital received three of the most seriously injured, who suffered fractures that triggered orange and red emergency protocols. In addition, two patients with burns were transferred from other health centers to the specialized unit for major burn care.
