Ercolano: explosion in illegal fireworks store, 3 dead

An explosion occurred at an unlawful fireworks manufacturing facility in an agricultural area between Ercolano and San Giorgio a Cremano (Naples). The incident resulted in the deaths of three individuals, an 18-year-old male and two 26-year-old twins, who were employed at the facility on their first day of work. Local media sources indicate that the enterprise was engaged in illicit activities, specifically producing fireworks for the forthcoming New Year’s Eve celebrations. The mayor of Ercolano Ciro Buonajuto has confirmed that no request for authorisation to undertake the activity in question had been received by the relevant authorities. According to the fire brigade, which attended the scene with the police and rescue vehicles, the fireworks store was likely the source of the accident due to the large quantity of fireworks stored there and the lack of experience of the young people hired to pack the fireworks.