Bologna, Italy – The hopes of finding survivors are fading as rescue efforts continue following an underground fire and explosion at a hydroelectric power plant in northern Italy. Local officials have confirmed that bodies have been recovered from the site of the explosion, with several individuals still missing. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, left three people severely injured and hospitalized.
Italian utility group Enel reported that a fire broke out on one of its transformers at the hydro power plant in Bargi, near Bologna, in the early afternoon. The explosion took place around 3 p.m. local time at a dam on Lake Suviana, one of the artificial lakes supplying the power station.
Mayor of Bologna, Matteo Lepore, mentioned on Tuesday that divers had been called in to assist in rescue efforts below the surface of the lake. The conditions for recovery are challenging due to the depth of the blast, estimated to be around 70 meters, and the structural collapse that occurred.
Initial reports suggest that a turbine defect may have been the cause of the incident, although Enel has not officially confirmed this. The company stated that the dam basin remained intact and that the power plant was not operational at the time of the explosion, minimizing the impact on electricity supply.
The tragic deaths resulting from the event are expected to raise concerns about workplace safety in Italy, with two of the country’s largest unions planning a nationwide strike in response. The unions had already organized a four-hour strike for Thursday to address issues related to workplace safety.
As rescue operations continue and investigations into the cause of the explosion are underway, the community is left grappling with the aftermath of the devastating incident. The impact of the tragedy extends beyond the immediate casualties, shedding light on the importance of ensuring safety measures in industrial facilities to prevent future disasters.