Fatalities Increase to Five Following Fuel Depot Explosion in Central Italy
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Rome, Dec 11 (NationPress) The number of fatalities from a significant explosion at a fuel depot in central Italy has increased to five after the body of the final missing worker was located, as confirmed by Italian officials.
The incident took place on Monday morning at a facility owned by ENI, Italy's largest energy provider, located in Calenzano near Florence in the Tuscany region. The explosion, which was felt across the neighboring areas, incited panic among locals who initially feared it might have been an earthquake or a bomb, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
Initially, authorities reported two fatalities and at least 14 injuries. A search and rescue operation was initiated for three missing workers, two of whom were discovered deceased within hours. By Tuesday, three individuals hospitalized remained in serious condition, as stated by Tuscany's regional governor, Eugenio Giani.
The Calenzano depot covers approximately 170,300 square meters and stores petrol, diesel, and kerosene for distribution. The explosion occurred in the area where tank trucks were loaded.
Prosecutors in the nearby city of Prato have commenced an investigation into multiple instances of manslaughter. Concurrently, the Tuscany regional government has proclaimed a day of mourning for Wednesday.
In reaction to this tragedy, workers and trade unions have called for enhanced workplace safety measures. Approximately 500 workers staged a sit-in outside ENI's refinery in Livorno on Tuesday, as reported by Ansa news agency. The General Confederation of Labour, Confederation of Workers' Union, and Labour Union announced a two-hour strike across the province on Wednesday.
Workplace safety remains a pressing concern in Italy. Data from the national insurance agency INAIL indicates that there were around 776 deadly incidents and 433,002 injuries reported between January and September this year. Throughout 2023, the agency recorded 1,147 deaths and nearly 600,000 injuries.
