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8 September 2023
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Bucharest: At least two people dead following explosions at LPG station
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Romanian authorities announced that two explosions at a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) station 30 kilometres from Bucharest, Romania, Saturday night, 26 August 2023, killed at least two people and injured dozens more. Thirty-nine firefighters who responded to the first explosion at the facility in Crevedia, north of the capital, were injured when a second explosion occurred.
More than 20 fire engines were dispatched to the scene and 3 000 residents within an 800-metre radius were evacuated, the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations said in a statement.
The emergency department warned that there's still the risk of more explosions, as at least one tanker is still in the area.
In initial reports, Raed Arafat, Romania's State Secretary for the Ministry of Internal Affairs said 41 people had suffered burns and were rushed to hospital while four others had to be taken to Italy and Belgium, "We have transferred two firefighters and two civilians abroad (for treatment) and others will follow".
The updated report stated that at least 56 people were injured and 10 are in critical condition. Authorities say eight residential properties were destroyed in the blasts and another 11 suffered damages. Since his statement, five more patients have been transferred to hospitals outside of Romania.
Authorities have yet to announce the cause of the explosions but the facility was subject to a closure order for reasons that remain unclear.
According to local media, the station was running despite the order. Two of the 10 000-litre fuel tanks on site were full.
President Klaus Iohannis described the incident as a “tragedy”. “I’m profoundly saddened that the explosions in Crevedia resulted in victims,” he wrote on Facebook.
“An investigation must quickly be launched to see if rules were broken. I ask the authorities to take urgent measures for the injured so that these tragedies won’t happen again,” he added.
Anger has flared repeatedly in the European Union member state over a lack of official oversight over safety measures.
In 2015, a blaze ripped through a Bucharest nightclub after fireworks were let off, killing 64 people.
Sources: Euro News, Reuters, Al Jazeera
More than 20 fire engines were dispatched to the scene and 3 000 residents within an 800-metre radius were evacuated, the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations said in a statement.
The emergency department warned that there's still the risk of more explosions, as at least one tanker is still in the area.
In initial reports, Raed Arafat, Romania's State Secretary for the Ministry of Internal Affairs said 41 people had suffered burns and were rushed to hospital while four others had to be taken to Italy and Belgium, "We have transferred two firefighters and two civilians abroad (for treatment) and others will follow".
The updated report stated that at least 56 people were injured and 10 are in critical condition. Authorities say eight residential properties were destroyed in the blasts and another 11 suffered damages. Since his statement, five more patients have been transferred to hospitals outside of Romania.
Authorities have yet to announce the cause of the explosions but the facility was subject to a closure order for reasons that remain unclear.
According to local media, the station was running despite the order. Two of the 10 000-litre fuel tanks on site were full.
President Klaus Iohannis described the incident as a “tragedy”. “I’m profoundly saddened that the explosions in Crevedia resulted in victims,” he wrote on Facebook.
“An investigation must quickly be launched to see if rules were broken. I ask the authorities to take urgent measures for the injured so that these tragedies won’t happen again,” he added.
Anger has flared repeatedly in the European Union member state over a lack of official oversight over safety measures.
In 2015, a blaze ripped through a Bucharest nightclub after fireworks were let off, killing 64 people.
Sources: Euro News, Reuters, Al Jazeera
