A regional fire Chief announced that an explosion at a decades-old hydroelectric plant in northern Italy resulted in the death of 3 workers and 5 severely injured. He added that 4 others have been missing.
Regional fire chief Francesco Notaro informed SKY TG24 that the explosion at the Bergi plant, operated by power company Enel and situated south of Bologna, occurred during maintenance activities. This explosion resulted in the collapse of a section of the nine-story underground facility, ignited a fire, and led to flooding reaching depths of up to 60 meters.
As there were risks of additional collapsing, the search operation was carried out with utmost care. “This is a historic power plant for us,” Marco Masinara, the mayor of the nearby town of Camugnano, told SKY.” It has been managed by Enel for 50 years, providing jobs for many families. Until today, nothing ever happened. Today, a drama occurred. Our world collapsed.”
He noted that three of those hospitalized were in serious condition, while the remaining two sustained minor injuries.
The artificial Suviana Lake was created by erecting a dam between 1928 and 1932. Situated within a regional park at an altitude of 500 meters (1,640 feet), it lies approximately 70 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of Bologna.
Enel Green Power stated in a release that the dam remained undamaged. CEO Salvatore Bernabei visited the site to monitor the situation closely. The company conveyed its condolences to the victims and their families.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni remarked that she was monitoring the “terrible” updates and extended her sympathy to the victims and their families.
