Explosive Incident Rocks Rome; One Extracted from Rubble
Rome, 23 March - A two-storey building has tragically exploded and collapsed today, with the incident occurring around 8:50 AM on Via Vitellia, at the junction with Via Pio Foa, in the Gianicolense district, likely due to a gas leak. (Photo- Video 1, Video 2).
In a stroke of fortune, a 54-year-old man of Scottish descent was pulled alive from the ruins. The district attorney has ordered the building to be sealed off. The first floor was being used as a B&B, which has been duly communicated to the municipality. Authorities are currently investigating safety regulations (fire prevention) and the habitability of nearby apartments. As it stands, apart from the tourist transported to Sant'Eugenio Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, no other individuals have been reported trapped beneath the wreckage. As a precaution, adjacent buildings were evacuated, and the electric supply has been isolated. The B&B at number 43 had only opened its doors less than a month ago, and the injured tourist was the establishment’s inaugural guest.
“Initial checks completed on the meters serving the building found them intact,” noted an Italgas spokesperson. “Technicians from the emergency response team arrived right away and are working with law enforcement to secure the affected gas line and to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Present at the scene was Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri (Video), who described the situation as a “powerful explosion that led to the collapse of a building and even damaged the wall of Villa Pamphili. A gas leak, possibly from an exploded cylinder, seems to be the culprit.” He emphasized that the injured man was transported with burns consistent with an explosion due to a gas leak and confirmed that emergency evaluations are ongoing regarding the safety of other nearby buildings.
Witnesses recounted harrowing experiences. “We were still in bed when we heard a tremendous bang,” said Giovanna, a local resident. “My mother was terrified and rushed to the terrace. It was clear this wasn’t just a car crash; it was an explosion. Smoke billowed upwards, and soon after, the street was closed off, with emergency services arriving in droves.”
Another local, Liliana, shared, “Around 8:50, I was vacuuming when I felt a dull thud. It sounded like a bomb. The windows rattled.” Meanwhile, a man named Lorenzo recounted his frantic dash to the scene after receiving alarming news, stressing his father's well-being while noting the chaos surrounding the rescue efforts as screams for help echoed amidst the debris.
Resource: Link
