World News

Rescue work is under way in the wake of the deadly Sicily explosion | Stories

At least three people have been killed in an explosion that caused several homes to collapse in Ravanusa on an Italian island.

At least three people have been killed in an explosion that destroyed many homes on the Italian island of Sicily.

Authorities on Sunday said two women were found alive in the southern town of Ravanusa after the flood Saturday night.

Rescuers, sniffer dogs and a drone have been dispatched to locate those missing, said a Sicily human rights group.

Local officials confirmed on his Facebook page that three people had been killed in the blast, which affected at least four homes. It did not say how many people were missing.

Officials said the blast appeared to have been caused by gas.

Video footage showed a large amount of debris, wood and torn metal in a large empty space in the center of Ravanusa, nearby houses were burned and destroyed.

Italian firefighters are searching for survivors after a gas explosion in Ravanusa, Sicily. [Vigili del Fuoco/AFP]

“Severe shock” as a result of the blast was heard at a distance of 100 meters (330 meters), said Salvatore Cocina, a senior Sicily security official.

Authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the explosion.

“The gas may have found a hole to accumulate,” Agrigento district fire chief Giuseppe Merendino told Rainews24 television.

“The gas bag would have found the cause of the accident: a car, an elevator, an electronic device.”

Shortly after the explosion, Ravanusa Mayor Carmelo D’Angelo appealed on Facebook to “anyone with shovels and bulldozers”.

“There is a disaster,” he said.

About 50 people have been displaced as a result of the incident, D’Angelo told Rainews24.




Source link

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button