Two people were killed and 56 injured, several of whom were taken abroad for treatment, in two explosions at a liquefied gas station near Bucharest on Saturday, Romanian authorities announced.
Deadly double-explosion at a gas station in Romania: Injuries and international relief efforts deployed
Thirty-nine firefighters responding to the first explosion at this liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) station in Crevedia, north of the capital, were injured when the second explosion occurred. The two deceased were a couple, the man of whom suffered a heart attack, while the woman, who was badly burned, later died of her injuries. Among the injured were two police officers and two gendarmes, said Raed Arafat, head of the rescue department, adding that some of the wounded had serious burns.
“We have transferred two firefighters and two civilians abroad (for treatment) and others will follow,” Mr. Arafat announced in a statement.
The wounded were taken to Italy and Belgium, according to the Romanian Ministry of Defense. Romania has requested assistance, via the European Union’s civil protection mechanism, for the treatment of 18 severely burned patients, and Austria, Germany and Norway have offered their help, European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said on X (ex-Twitter). The reasons for the explosions were not yet known, but an investigation is underway.
“We know that the station was not in operation, and had no authorization to operate,” said Mr. Arafat.
More than twenty fire engines were dispatched to the scene, and the population was evacuated within a 700-meter radius, the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations said in a statement. On Facebook, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis deplored the “tragedy” and has already called for an investigation.
