Two individuals lost their lives, and 56 others sustained injuries following two explosions that occurred at an unlicensed liquefied petroleum gas filling station just north of Romania’s capital, Bucharest.
Gatekeepers News reports according to officials, the majority of those injured were firefighters who rushed to the scene to contain the fire caused by the initial explosion before the second explosion occurred on Saturday.
Raed Arafat, Head of the emergency department revealed that the deceased were identified as a couple; the man suffered a heart attack, while the woman succumbed to severe burns.
Arafat also stated that among those injured—some of whom suffered severe burns—were 39 firefighters, two police officers, and two gendarmes.
The Defense Ministry says four individuals, including two firefighters and two civilians, were transferred abroad to Italy or Belgium for treatment.
Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management on X confirmed that Romania has sought help from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to treat 18 burn patients adding that Austria, Germany, and Norway have offered their assistance in response to the incident.
The cause of the explosions in Crevedia commune remains unclear, and an investigation has been launched by prosecutors.
“We know that the station was no longer working, so it clearly didn’t have a permit to function,” Arafat said.
The fire also forced the evacuation of people within a 700-metre (770 yards) radius.
“I’m profoundly saddened that the explosions in Crevedia resulted in victims,” President Klaus Iohannis wrote on Facebook, calling it a “tragedy”.
Anger has flared repeatedly in the EU member state over a lack of official oversight to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
In 2015, a blaze ripped through a Bucharest nightclub after fireworks were let off, killing 64 people.
AFP
