In brief
An explosion at a fuel depot in Calenzano, near Florence, Italy, on Monday morning resulted in the deaths of at least two people and injured nine others. The blast, which occurred at around 10:20 a.m., has left three workers unaccounted for. ENI, the energy company that owns the depot, confirmed that the explosion was contained to the loading area and did not spread to surrounding tanks.
Local authorities responded rapidly, leading to a high alert at nearby hospitals, and issuing warnings for residents within a three-mile radius to stay indoors due to smoke. "It's very, very bad," remarked Florence's mayor, Sara Funaro, as the city declared two days of mourning and pledged psychological support for victim families. Italian civil protection minister Nello Musumeci noted that emergency crews were promptly dispatched. Firefighters from Florence and nearby towns successfully managed to control the fire. The chief prosecutor from Prato indicated an investigation would commence to ascertain the explosion's cause and accountability. As details continue to unfold, the community grapples with the tragic consequences of the incident.
