A massive explosion at a Rome gas station has injured dozens, ignited dark smoke plumes visible across the city, and triggered urgent rescue efforts.
At a Glance
- Explosion occurred around 8 a.m. local time at a southeastern Rome petrol station near Prenestino Labicano.
- Emergency responders reported at least 25–45 injuries, including police, firefighters, residents, and a sports center employee.
- Shockwave shattered nearby buildings and damaged vehicles; evacuation of a youth sports camp prevented greater tragedy.
- Authorities opened a criminal investigation into a suspected LPG leak during fuel unloading.
- Pope Leo XIV and Prime Minister Meloni publicly offered prayers and praised first‑responder actions.
Blast and Immediate Aftermath
Witnesses described a “giant fireball” followed by a second, “hellish” blast just after responders arrived, echoing across Rome and “rocking houses like an earthquake,” according to Reuters. Reports confirm between 25 and 45 injured, including nine to eleven police officers, several firefighters, residents, and a sports-center employee who suffered burns, per CityNews Ottawa.
Mayor Roberto Gualtieri stated that emergency crews were responding to a gas leak when the explosions struck, according to CityNews Toronto. Fire brigades deployed 15 units as police evacuated a youth camp just moments before the second detonation, a move that Star Tribune credits with saving lives.
Watch the dramatic aftermath as flames engulf the station in this visual report:
WATCH: Gas station explosion Rome
Investigation and Wider Response
Prosecutors launched an inquiry into a suspected leak during LPG refueling operations. Structural damage included blown-out windows and scorched vehicles, with nearby roads temporarily sealed off, as reported by CBS News. Residents described debris raining down and a scene “like a bomb.”
Pope Leo XIV shared a prayer on X, calling for calm in “the heart of my Diocese.” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised first responders for their swift actions that prevented what she termed a “much more tragic outcome.”
Smoke continues to billow as investigators examine pipeline records, facility logs, and emergency response protocols—just as Rome braces for a summer of heat, fuel volatility, and heightened risk.
