One Dead, 57 Injured After Huge Explosion at Romania Gas Station
- VIVA/B.S.Putra
Bucharest – One person has been killed and 57 others, including 39 firefighters wounded after two explosions rocked a liquified pwtroleum gas station close to Romania's capital Bucharest on Saturday, officials have stated.
The firefighters were injured in a second explosion as they were helping douse the fire in Crevedia commune, north of the capital, according to the government. At least 10 of those wounded were in critical condition, according to hospital representatives and local media.
"The injured include 39 firefighters, two police officers and two policemen," said Raed Arafat, head of the emergency department, on Sunday, August 28, 2023.
"Overnight we transferred two firefighters and two civilians abroad (for treatment) and more will follow," Arafat said in a statement on Monday.
Ilustrasi pemadam kebakaran.
- Pixabay.
The four were transferred to Italy or Belgium, according to the defense ministry.
It is not yet clear what caused the explosion in Crevedia to occur. However, the village community and prosecutors have opened an investigation.
"We know that the station is no longer functioning, so it obviously doesn't have a license to function," Arafat said.
The fire also forced the evacuation of people within a 700 meter (770 yard) radius, "I am deeply saddened that the explosion in Crevedia resulted in loss of life," the president, Klaus Iohannis, wrote on his Facebook account.
Anger is also widespread in EU member states at the lack of official oversight to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
In 2015, a fire also engulfed a nightclub in Bucharest after fireworks were set off, killing 64 people.
