One person died and at least 57 were injured in explosions and subsequent fires at an LPG filling station in Crevedia, Romania, about 30 kilometers from Bucharest. Most of the victims are firefighters who tried to put out the fire after the first explosion.
The Romanian service of Radio Liberty reports that the explosion occurred when gas station workers connected a new fuel tank. Then followed the fire. The fire engulfed two tanks and a nearby house.
About two hours after the first explosion, a second one occurred. There is no official confirmation of more explosions.
Two firefighters in serious condition were sent by military aircraft to Brussels. Two more civilians were transported to Italy. Austria, Norway, Germany and Bulgaria also offered their assistance to Romania.
More than three thousand people were evacuated from the rescue operation zone. Traffic on the Bucharest-Ploiesti highway in the Crevedia region has been stopped in both directions.
The reasons for the incident are being investigated. The Prosecutor General’s Office of Romania is investigating. Deputy Interior Minister Raed Arafat, who is in charge of emergency services, said the gas station where the explosions took place did not have a work permit.
