ROME (BN24) — A powerful gas station explosion rocked southeastern Rome early Friday, injuring at least 25 people, including nine first responders, and prompting a wide-scale emergency response, local authorities said.
The blast occurred shortly after 8 a.m. in the Centocelle district and sent a massive plume of dark smoke into the sky that could be seen from across the Italian capital. Two large explosions followed reports of a gas leak at the station, officials said, severely damaging the area and sparking a blaze that firefighters battled for hours.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said emergency services had been dispatched following reports of a suspected gas leak when the explosions erupted in quick succession. “We were alerted to the smell of gas and dispatched a team,” Gualtieri said. “Unfortunately, two blasts occurred after the initial arrival.”
Among the injured were 16 local residents, two of whom were hospitalized in serious condition at Rome’s Casilino hospital, according to Elisabetta Accardo, a spokeswoman for the Rome police. “Nine injured are members of the law enforcement corps — police and carabinieri — and one is a firefighter. Thankfully, none are in life-threatening condition,” she said.
Fifteen firefighting teams responded to the emergency, attempting to control the fire that broke out following the explosions. Emergency services quickly evacuated nearby buildings and a neighboring sports center, safely removing children and staff from the premises.
Rome prosecutors have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion, with early evidence suggesting it may have resulted from a gas leak during the unloading of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at the station.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as the fireball swept through the area. Barbara Belardinelli, a local resident, said she and her daughter suffered burns after being caught in the second explosion. “We heard the first blast and went outside to see what had happened,” she told reporters. “But when the second explosion hit, we were struck by a ball of fire. My daughter’s arm is still red. It was terrifying.”
Others likened the impact to an earthquake, saying the force of the explosions shattered windows and blew shutters off buildings. “It felt like the earth shook,” one resident told local media. “There was debris everywhere.”
Pope Leo XIV said he was offering prayers for the injured and those affected by the blast, calling it a tragedy “in the heart of my Diocese.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was closely monitoring the situation and extended her sympathies to those impacted.
Authorities are continuing to assess structural damage in the area while investigators work to determine what led to the catastrophic explosion.
