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A gas station explosion in southeastern Rome on Friday morning left at least 25 people injured, including nine police officers and a firefighter, according to local authorities and rescue officials.
The explosion, which occurred shortly after 8 a.m., was heard across the Italian capital, sending a massive cloud of dark smoke and fire into the sky, visible from several parts of the city.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said police and firefighters rushed to the scene after receiving reports of a gas leak. “Two explosions followed after they arrived,” he added.
Elisabetta Accardo, spokeswoman for Rome police, confirmed that 16 residents were injured, including two who were in “severe conditions” and hospitalized at Rome’s Casilino Hospital.
“Nine of the injured are from law enforcement corps — police and carabinieri — and one is a firefighter,” she added. “But luckily they are not in life-threatening conditions.”
Fifteen firefighting teams were deployed to the site and worked to bring the fire under control.
Rome prosecutors have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion, which may be linked to a reported gas leak during the unloading of liquefied petroleum gas at the station.
Police swiftly evacuated a nearby sports center following the first explosion, bringing several children to safety. Officers also searched surrounding areas for people who may have been injured or trapped in nearby buildings.
Barbara Belardinelli, a local resident, said she and her daughter were slightly injured after leaving their home to investigate the initial blast. “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 recalled. “We felt the fire on the skin, the arm of my daughter is still red, it was horrible.”
Other residents described the explosion as so powerful it shook nearby buildings “like an earthquake,” breaking windows and tearing off shutters.
Pope Leo XIV expressed his concern and solidarity, stating he was praying for those affected by the explosion, which occurred “in the heart of my Diocese.”
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was closely monitoring the situation.