Two people have been killed and nine others injured after an explosion at a storage facility owned by an oil company near Florence.
Pictures shared on social media showed a plume of smoke rising from the site of the explosion in Calenzano, a town 18 miles from Florence, Italy on Monday morning.
Local media reported that the loud explosion rocked the building, owned by Italian oil industry company Eni, and was heard from miles away shortly after 10am local time.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, with the local hospital activating a plan for a “massive influx of injured”, according to local media.
At least two people have been killed and a further nine injured in the explosion, with the Calenzano government confirming four people are still missing.
In a statement posted on its website, it urged people to avoid the area while the fire brigade, which said the fire had been put out, continues its operation.
An ENI spokesperson said the explosion occurred in a loading area but did not affect the site’s fuel storage facilities.
“All of Tuscany is united in grief for the tragedy that happened today in Calenzano,” regional president Eugenio Giani wrote on social media.
Residents of Campi Bisenzio, a town five miles away from Calenzano, were told to close their windows in order to protect themselves from the fumes and to avoid going outside.
Regional trains between Florence and Prato have also been disrupted as Calenzano station is closed.
