Firefighters have put out a blaze in an ENI warehouse in Calenzano, a town in the greater Florence metropolitan area located 13 km (eight miles) from the city of the Renaissance. Five employees died in the explosion, 26 were hospitalized — with several in critical condition.
The industrial accident, which took place at 10:15 am, is attributed to a gas leak which happened during the operation of filling tankers with fuel.
ENI is the world’s eighth largest energy company. Gas, diesel fuel and petroleum arrive at the ENI warehouse in Calenzano via a pipeline from the Tuscan port of Livorno. The warehouse is located close to the Autostrada del Sole, a major highway that connects Italy from north to south, the Firenze-Mare toll road that links Florence to the coast, as well as to the Gigli mall and Florence airport.
The Civil Protection Agency has advised the residents of Calenzano, Sesto Fiorentino and Campi Bisenzio to keep the windows of their homes and offices shut and to avoid going outside. Local train service has been suspended until further notice. Another consequence of the accident is a sharp odor, so masks have also been distributed to local residents.
