Rome, July 4, 2025 — On Friday morning around 8:15 local time in Rome’s eastern Prenestino neighborhood,an explosion at a petrol station sent a spectacular fireball into the sky that quickly went viral on social media and news outlets. This blast caused widespread damage, sent shockwaves through nearby neighborhoods and left multiple individuals injured.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple explosions at the station; witnesses described massive flames and dark smoke visible for kilometers around. indiatimes.com; reuters.com and thesun.co.uk all provided eyewitness accounts, with eyewitness accounts being available through India Times, Reuter’s and The Sun respectively. The Italian state police reported this incident occurred as a result of a delivery truck striking a gas pipeline during a refueling operation at the station. Eyewitness accounts provided details. Witness accounts included hearing explosions followed by several sequence of explosions; with large ones producing massive balls of flame and dark smoke visible from several kilometers away, India Times, Reuter’s, The Sun’s reports +5 all reports +5 each report as witnesses described numerous explosions with one becoming visible from several kilometers away with bright flames visible several kilometers away with dark smoke visible several kilometers away and seen by eye witnesses from reuters +5 report and Thesun +5 reports detailing this event and eyewitness reports described numerous explosions occurring, with large blast amidst brief explosions followed by multiple explosions each time witness reports seeing smoke or seeing massive balls of flame and dark smoke visible from several kilometers away with visible smoke visible from several kilometers away until several kilometers away with dark smoke visible from several kilometers away before all three reported it’s this incident was witnessed for at least five kilometers away [sources reuters +5, Thesun.co.uk correspondant] (source]. For thesun.co.uk].
Emergency responders including police, firefighters and ambulance teams were already at the scene when an explosion took place, prompting emergency personnel including police, firefighters and ambulance teams to go into action in response to a pipeline collision. At least nine emergency personnel, as well as 16 civilians (including the station manager). Eight police officers and one firefighter received burn injuries but none are considered life-threatening. people.com: +5
Flames spread quickly, quickly engulfing nearby cars, a depot, and even causing structural damage to nearby buildings. A nearby children’s sports center was evacuated just prior to the explosions to protect five children present from harm; independent.co.uk +3 [The Sun, UK and India Times +3 ].
Shockwaves caused by an earthquake have broken windows and scattered debris across numerous residential blocks, as captured in shocking video footage.
Local residents spoke of the tremendous force of impact, with one witness telling Reuters it sounded like a bomb and made their entire house shake, according to The Sun. Police commissioner Elisabetta Accardo confirmed emergency workers were struck by secondary explosions resulting in multiple minor burns (reuters.com +5, standard.co.uk +5 and indiatimes +5)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Leo XIV both expressed concern, yet assured the public that everything was under control. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri visited the scene to commend first responders’ swift and coordinated response (reuters.com/pressrelease/4235629 and TheSun/Cox 418/3835 for example)
Fire service spokesperson Luca Cari reported that ten fire crews worked to extinguish and contain the inferno, with over five people hospitalized as a result of minor burns or glass cuts, including one firefighter as well as civilians. One individual was rescued from an overturned vehicle in serious, but stable condition by firefighters; see standard.co.uk for details on this individual.
Investigations remain underway to ascertain the precise causes and sequence of events leading to the explosion, with authorities suspecting the mix of petrol, diesel and LPG at the station may have caused it. Officials have secured the area and initiated structural inspections in order to make sure there is no further risk to public safety.
Authorities continue their work as they look into this devastating fire, while its video footage serves as a stark reminder of the risks inherent to fuel storage and emergency preparedness. Community members, even those distantly affected by it, have shown their solidarity by showing support and solidarity towards those directly impacted.