ENI plant explosion in Calenzano: death toll rises

In the aftermath of the explosion that devastated the ENI oil depot in Calenzano, situated on the outskirts of Florence, firefighters have located the bodies of the three individuals who were unaccounted for. Twenty-six individuals sustained injuries, nine of whom were transported to the hospital for further medical attention. This brings the total number of victims confirmed to be involved in the incident to five, of whom only one has been identified thus far – a 51-year-old lorry driver, originally from Naples, currently residing in Prato. The latest available information indicates a notable explosion occurred around 10:15 a.m. on Monday 9 December, and originated in the loading bay area. At the time, a tanker truck was en route to the shelters to load fuel. An eyewitness account states that a fuel leak was observed from the nozzle, followed by a violent deflagration. Nevertheless, the evidence about the fuel leak does not, in and of itself, provide an adequate account of the circumstances that precipitated the explosion. Indeed, this is precisely the area the investigative team is focusing on. Calenzano is a significant-risk facility subject to inspections by relevant authorities, at least every three years. The last inspection was in 2021.