At least two killed and four missing in explosion at Italian gas refinery
By Sharon Braithwaite and Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN
Rome (CNN) — At least two people were killed and four are missing following an explosion Monday at a gas refinery near the Italian city of Florence, according to local authorities.
A further nine people were injured in the blast at the facility, which belongs to Eni, one of the largest energy companies in Italy.
A fire caused by the explosion is now under control, according to the local municipality of Calenzano.
“Eni confirms that a fire broke out this morning at the fuel depot in Calenzano,” the company said in a statement, adding that the fire was confined to a loading area and did “not affect the tank farm in any way.”
In a later statement, Eni said that it “would like to express its strong sympathy to the families of the deceased and to those involved in the accident.”
The company is cooperating with authorities to determine the cause of the explosion, it said.
The regional Department of Civil Protection issued an alert for the area within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the explosion, warning residents to “keep windows closed and do not go near the area.”
“All of Tuscany is united in grief for the tragedy that happened today in Calenzano,” regional president Eugenio Giani said on Telegram.
The local municipality has declared two days of mourning on Monday and Tuesday.
This story has been updated.
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