According to local press, a massive explosion has rocked one of Italy’s biggest oil refineries in Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi, near Pavia, about 40km south of Milan. Local authorities have ordered residents to stay indoors while an emergency plan is activated.
#BREAKING Explosion was reported at one of Italy’s biggest oil refineries some 40 km south of Milan, residents warned to stay indoors pic.twitter.com/BP7Xm0WPKT
— People’s Daily,China (@PDChina) December 1, 2016
#Sannazzaro fiamme alte e difficili da spegnere. pic.twitter.com/VktcAOAaEw
— Ginevra Astor (@ginevraastor) December 1, 2016
esplosione raffineria #sannazzaro pic.twitter.com/iBcliLuK3D
— Graziano Sida (@gra_67) December 1, 2016
The Department of Civil Protection in the Province of Alessandria says nearby emergency centers have been activated for monitoring and supervision, but people are advised to remain indoors in the meantime.
Aggiornamento da #Tortona! #Sannazzaro #SannazzaroDeBurgondi #Eni pic.twitter.com/eOxmOmURlr
— Annalisa Lagalla (@AnnalisaLagalla) December 1, 2016
Local authorities are warning that the clouds of smoke are being pushed by winds towards Voghera, about 30km (19 miles) south of Sannazzaro, and are expected to remain over the site for the coming hours.
The fire at the Eni refinery broke out at around 3.40 p.m. generating a ball of fire tens of meters high, according to eyewitnesses cited by Il Giorno. Images and footage from the scene show an enormous column of black smoke rising overhead.
Eni has issued a statement saying efforts are underway to extinguish the fire and there have been no reports of any injuries. The company also said the cause of the blast is under investigation.
.@eni informa sulla Raffineria di #Sannazzaro https://t.co/FMBpiJ2OzG
— Eniday (@Eniday) December 1, 2016
The fire, which broke out in the East Shipyard refinery area according to Il Fatto Quotidiano, comes after a similar incident in July where a worker suffered burns following an explosion at an older part of the plant.
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