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Rome Gas Station Explosion Claims Life

Inspector succumbs to severe burns days after incident.

A devastating explosion at a Rome petrol station has claimed the life of **Claudio Ercoli**, a 67-year-old inspector. He died Wednesday at Sant’Eugenio hospital, succumbing to injuries sustained in the blast that occurred last Friday.

Tragic Outcome After Extensive Treatment

**Ercoli** suffered third-degree burns across 55% of his body. ASL Roma 2 reported that he underwent a complex skin graft procedure on Tuesday. Despite every effort by the medical team, his condition gradually worsened due to the severity of the burns.

A first responder, a member of the Carabinieri, rescued **Ercoli** from his burning vehicle. He was transported to the emergency room, where he was identified as the most critically injured victim.

Mayor Expresses Condolences

Roberto Gualtieri, the Mayor of Rome, shared his sorrow: “With deep pain I learned of **Claudio Ercoli’s** tragic disappearance… In this moment of sadness, the whole city joins the condolence for this loss. On behalf of Rome I wish to express our sincere closeness to his family, to his friends and those who loved him.”

Remembering a Helpful Friend

**Marco**, a childhood friend of **Ercoli**, fondly recalled their shared history in the Villa Gordiani district: “With **Claudio** we are grown together in the Villa Gordiani district… A good person, altruistic. If there was someone to help, he was always the first to run. I hoped until the last that would make it.”

**Marco** also spoke of **Ercoli’s** love for animals and his 40-year marriage to **Mariagrazia**. He described visiting **Ercoli** at the petrol station and his disbelief upon hearing the news.

Other Victims

Another patient remains in critical but stable condition with burns covering 25% of their body, according to ASL Rome 2. Police inspector **Marco Neri** and police officer **Francesco D’Onofrio**, who sustained serious burns, were scheduled to undergo reconstructive surgery at the Policlinic Umberto I.

Company Clarification

Initially misidentified as an Eni employee, the company clarified that **Ercoli** was not directly employed by them. Eni stated that the petrol station is operated by Ecogasauto srl, which uses the Eni brand, and that Ecogasauto manages the LPG on site.

Ongoing Fire Emergency

The incident occurs amid an ongoing fire emergency in the capital. Recent reports indicate that 90% of wildfires are started by humans (NIFC 2023).

Another fire broke out in Fiumicino, near Rome, adding to the challenges faced by emergency services.

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