A powerful explosion at a petrol station in Rome’s Prenestino district on Friday evening injured at least 45 people, including 12 police officers and six firefighters, Italian authorities confirmed. The blast, which occurred just after 8 PM local time, was heard across the capital.
The explosion happened at a distributor of petrol, diesel, and LPG after a truck reportedly hit a pipeline, causing a gas leak that led to a fire and subsequent blast. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri stated the incident likely occurred during fuel-tank refilling operations.
Two victims remain in critical condition with severe burns requiring ventilation support. Firefighters and ambulance workers were among those injured, having been called to the scene before the explosion. Images shared by Italian media showed a huge fireball rising into the sky and the petrol station almost completely destroyed.
Pope Leo XIV expressed his prayers for the victims, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised emergency responders for preventing even greater loss of life. Nearby, a youth summer camp at a sports centre was safely evacuated before the blast.
The petrol station bore Eni branding, though the Italian energy company clarified it does not own the facility. This incident follows a similar tragedy last December when an explosion at an Eni fuel depot near Florence killed five people. An investigation into the Rome explosion is ongoing.
