A tragic incident unfolded in Crevedia, a town near Bucharest, Romania, where two successive explosions at a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) station claimed one life and caused injuries to 57 individuals. The unfortunate events occurred on Saturday, prompting immediate emergency response.
The initial explosion triggered a blaze that rapidly engulfed two fuel tanks and an adjacent house. In response, local authorities swiftly evacuated all residents within a 700-meter radius, while traffic on the nearby main road was halted. This information was disclosed by the government’s emergency response unit, IGSU, Dailytrust reports.
Shockingly, a second explosion erupted at the LPG station later that evening, resulting in injuries to 26 firefighters who were at the scene. Deputy Interior Minister Raed Arafat, responsible for the emergency response unit, confirmed this development, as reported by Reuters.
Firefighters battled the blaze throughout the night, and by Sunday morning, it was successfully contained. The prosecutor general has since taken charge of the investigation into the incident.
The majority of the injured were individuals who were actively engaged in providing emergency services. Among them, eight victims suffered severe burns and were intubated. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu revealed plans for the transfer of four critically injured patients to hospitals in Italy and Belgium during an emergency meeting with relevant state agencies.
Arafat disclosed that the LPG station lacked the necessary operational authorization, as per a report by hotnews.ro.
LPG holds significant popularity in Eastern Europe as a fuel source due to its economic advantage over traditional gasoline or diesel. However, the unfortunate events underscore the critical importance of adhering to safety regulations in such facilities to prevent catastrophic incidents like these.
