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A major explosion took place in a petrol station in the Prenestino area of eastern Rome early Friday morning, leaving over 20 people injured, including nine police officers and a firefighter. The blast, which occurred just after 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT), was reportedly heard across the Italian capital. Local reports indicate that the incident began when a truck collided with a gas pipeline at the fuel distribution point.

Images published by local news outlet Roma Today showed a large fireball and thick smoke rising into the sky. Firefighters also released photos of the station site, which appeared extensively damaged.

According to statements by Rome police chief Roberto Massucci, several emergency workers were hurt after arriving at the scene. Firefighters and ambulance personnel had been dispatched to respond to the initial gas leak caused by the truck’s impact. While they were assessing the situation, a major tank explosion occurred.

One firefighter was hospitalised, though none of the first responders were reported to be in critical condition. The fire department later stated, “We are working on a tank explosion… the fire is still ongoing.”

In addition to the injured emergency responders, 16 civilians, including the fuel station manager, sustained injuries. Health officials confirmed that five people were hospitalised with minor burns or wounds from shattered glass. At least one individual was rescued from a burning vehicle, with their condition being described as serious but not critical.

Explosion area | Credit: AP

The shockwave from the explosion damaged buildings in the vicinity and ignited a nearby depot. A local sports centre, which was running a children’s summer camp directly across from the petrol station, was evacuated before the blast, according to a statement by a representative on Facebook.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office confirmed that she was being briefed on the situation. Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV expressed concern for the victims in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “I pray for the people involved in the explosion of a gas station… I continue to follow the developments of this tragic incident with concern.”

No fatalities have been reported as of the latest updates. Investigations into the full cause and consequences of the explosion are ongoing.