Rome: Shocking Explosion at Gas Station – ‘It Was Like a Bomb, Pure Hell’

The city of Rome was shaken by a massive explosion at a fuel station in the Prenestino neighborhood early Friday morning (04.07.2025), triggering a series of chain reactions and injuring at least 21 people—including firefighters, police officers, and local residents, according to Italian media reports. Greek ERT reported the number of injured as 30. The area has been cordoned off by police, and efforts continue to extinguish the fire that caused widespread panic. Residents described the noise as extremely loud—similar to a bomb detonation—and noted that metal and glass objects were hurled into the air. Elisabetta Accardo, a representative of the Rome police, explained that the initial explosion was triggered by a fire, which led to a smaller blast before escalating into a devastating chain reaction. According to statements reported by DailyMail, there were several subsequent explosions following the first one. Early casualty reports cited nine injuries among security forces and firefighters, with five being rushed to hospital suffering serious burns and glass-related injuries. No deaths have been reported so far. A witness speaking to La Repubblica described scenes of chaos, likening it to a bomb going off. ‘I was running—it was less than 100 meters from the gas pump,’ said Massimo Bartoletti. ‘I saw the first explosion, a classic fireball. Soon after came the second one—that was hell. A mushroom-shaped fire cloud formed in the sky. The whole area shook. It was hell—everything flew into the air.’ The force of the blast sent parts of a fuel tanker flying hundreds of meters away. Firefighters confirmed they were dealing with an ongoing fuel tank explosion and fire. Luca Cary, a fire service spokesperson, later confirmed that one firefighter was lightly injured and that ten teams were working on-site. A damaged ambulance with a burned hood and doors was found near the blast site. The explosion caused damage to nearby buildings, shattered windows, and ignited a fire that spread to a judicial building located directly behind the station. Rome’s public transport company Atac announced the closure of a nearby metro station, following police orders, while authorities inspected a nearby nursery and sports center for possible injuries. Many hospitals in Rome, including San Giovanni, Sandro Pertini, and Sant’Eugenio, were placed on alert to receive casualties. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted on social media: ‘I am closely monitoring the consequences of the explosion that occurred this morning at a gas station in the Prenestino neighborhood of Rome. I spoke with the mayor of the city, Roberto Gualtieri, and remain in constant contact with Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano and the relevant authorities to follow the development of the situation.’ The cause of the fire that triggered the initial explosion remains unknown and is under investigation.