A devastating explosion occurred this morning at the Eni fuel depot in Calenzano, a town near Florence, claiming the lives of at least two people, injuring nine, and leaving three others missing.
The flames are currently confined to the loading bay area and do not pose a threat to the fuel storage tanks.
“All hospitals and emergency rooms have been alerted,” announced Tuscany’s governor Eugenio Giani on social media.
The Department of Civil Protection has issued an alert covering a 5-kilometer radius around the explosion site, urging residents to keep windows closed and avoid the area. An emergency response unit has been activated and is working in close coordination with the Rescue Coordination Center established by the Prefecture. A team has been dispatched to Florence to support local authorities in managing the crisis.
The explosion occurred in a loading area where fuel tankers fill up. The thick column of smoke from the blast is visible from nearby towns, and the air is filled with a strong, acrid odor from burning hydrocarbons. Firefighters and police are actively working at the scene. Masks are being distributed to individuals in the area to protect their respiratory systems from the smoke.
The Calenzano exit on the A1 highway has been closed in both directions. Autostrade, the highway operator, advises drivers to use the Scandicci or Barberino del Mugello exits instead. Train service on the Florence-Bologna and Florence-Prato-Pistoia lines has also been suspended to allow emergency teams to operate safely. Travelers should expect delays, route changes, and cancellations.
Eyewitnesses have described the terrifying moment of the explosion: “We heard a massive blast, all the windows shattered, and the shelves collapsed. We ran outside in fear, trying to protect ourselves and understand what had happened. Some thought it was a bomb, like being in a war zone,” recounted workers from nearby businesses. A local worker added, “My van was lifted two meters off the ground, and the noise was so loud I can barely hear now.”
The investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing.
Update as of 4:00 PM (CET)
The Municipality of Calenzano has provided reassuring updates regarding the explosion and subsequent fire at the Eni fuel depot earlier today.
In a post on their official Facebook page, the Municipality stated: “Arpat confirms that there are no health risks from the fire that occurred this morning at the Eni depot.”
Additionally, both the A1 highway and train services, which were temporarily suspended following the incident, have now resumed normal operations.
Emergency response teams continue to monitor the situation, while investigations into the cause of the explosion remain ongoing..