ROME: At least four people were killed and five went missing after an explosion at an Italian hydroelectric power plant on Tuesday, an official said.
The incident occurred at the Bargi plant, operated by Enel Green Power and situated on Lake Suviana in central Italy. The blast also left three people injured, as confirmed by an official from the Bologna prefecture.
Images from the scene captured by fire services showed smoke billowing from the plant, located at the water’s edge, as rescue teams searched for the missing individuals amidst the aftermath of the early afternoon explosion.
The mayor of the nearby town of Camugnano, Marco Masinara, described the event as a “terrible workplace accident,” expressing solidarity with the affected community. Masinara said that the explosion may have been triggered by a floor slab collapse, complicating rescue efforts due to extensive water ingress into the facility.
The head of the Bologna fire department, Calogero Turturici, said that at least one person sustained serious injuries in the incident.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conveyed her concern via social media, expressing apprehension over the tragic news of the explosion.
Enel Green Power, the company responsible for operating the hydroelectric plant, stated that it is cooperating with authorities in response to the incident. The company assured that the dam basin remained intact and unaffected, emphasizing that production had been suspended but there was no impact on local or national energy supply.
