Rome Petrol Station Explosion Injures Dozens
Investigation launched after gas leak report precedes twin blasts
At least 40 individuals sustained injuries, including first responders, after a gas station exploded in **Rome** early Friday. The incident is under investigation following reports of a gas leak.
Emergency Response and Evacuation
**Rome**’s Mayor, **Roberto Gualtieri**, stated that police and firefighters were dispatched following a gas leak report. After their arrival, two explosions occurred. Local authorities evacuated a nearby sports center and buildings close to the gas station, preventing further harm.
**Elisabetta Accardo**, police spokeswoman for **Rome**, confirmed that 24 residents sustained injuries; two are in serious condition at **Rome**’s Casilino hospital.
Eleven injured individuals are members of law enforcement, including police and carabinieri. A firefighter was also injured, though none are in life-threatening condition.
Investigation Underway
**Rome** prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the explosion’s cause, exploring a possible link to a gas leak during the unloading of liquified petroleum gas.
The swift evacuation of the sports center ensured the safety of many children. Police also searched the vicinity for other potential victims.
Eyewitness Accounts
**Barbara Belardinelli** reported that she and her daughter sustained minor injuries after investigating the first explosion. “As soon as we heard the second explosion, we were also hit by a ball of fire. I thought that a car near us exploded, metal fragments were flying in the air,”
she recounted. “We felt the fire on the skin, the arm of my daughter is still red, it was horrible.”
Other residents described the blast as feeling like an earthquake, causing damage to surrounding buildings, shattering windows and dislodging shutters. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Italy experiences an average of 20 earthquakes per year of magnitude 4.0 or greater (USGS).
Statements from Leaders
**Pope Leo XIV** expressed his prayers for those affected, noting the event occurred “in the heart of my Diocese.”
Prime Minister **Giorgia Meloni** stated she is closely monitoring the situation.
