Eight seriously injured

Explosion at an oil refinery near Florence

Dozens of injured people with burns are expected, authorities said.(Bild: Massimo Todaro)

On Monday, an explosion occurred at a refinery belonging to the Italian energy company ENI in Calenzano near Florence. At least two people died and eight were injured, at least two of them with serious burns. Four people are missing.

The explosion caused a large column of smoke that could be seen for miles around and could also be heard in other parts of the province. Many people in the area posted photos and videos showing a column of black smoke (see Twitter posts below).

Highway access closed
Access to the A1 highway was closed due to the high cloud of smoke, and rail traffic was also affected.

The explosion is said to have occurred in the area of the plant where the tankers are supplied with fuel.

All hospitals and emergency rooms in the area were alerted, according to "Il Post".

The municipality of Sesto Fiorentino has asked residents within a five-kilometer radius to reduce outdoor activities and keep the windows of their homes closed. 

"The accident caused a huge vibration that broke the glass panes in many houses. The situation is under control, we are now assessing what to do and where we need to intervene. It is recommended not to leave the house and to keep the windows closed," said the mayor of Calenzano, Giuseppe Carovani.

Dozens of people with burns are expected to be injured. For this reason, the Careggi hospital in Florence, for example, has activated an emergency plan in anticipation of a massive influx of injured people.

This includes the closure of the hospital's normal activities and the rooms reserved for the emergency department. Other hospitals in the region were on alert to receive the injured.