A fuel tanker ran into the back of a car lorry on a highway outside the Bologna airport in northern Italy Monday, causing an intense explosion that killed one and injured 55 others.
Dramatic footage shows the bridge collapsing as the fire spread from the cars to the fuel tanker, engulfing the emergency responders in a fury of smoke and fire.
Several cars from a Peugeot car dealership below the bridge also caught on fire as victims nearby were hit with flying debris, local media reports.
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New footage moment #explosion #highway #Bologna #italy pic.twitter.com/yf9hPFVakj
— Eef van der Lee (@Vandalay76) August 6, 2018
The crash appears to be an accident.
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Italian police say a major explosion of a tanker occurred after an accident on a highway near Bologna, Italy, leaving a crater in the elevated highway.
ANZA and La Stampa news outlets report dozens have been injured. pic.twitter.com/dzwxLyXDat
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 6, 2018
Various news outlets say the number of those injured is up to 55, with at least 14 severely injured.
Bologna highway explosion leaves at least 56 injured, Italian police say https://t.co/D9tH1IN9oP pic.twitter.com/tDyKQhBBPn
— News Time Update (@newstimeupdate) August 6, 2018
Police have closed off the surrounding area in Borgo Panigale, in the outskirts of Bologna, and firefighters and ambulances are at the scene.
The official Twitter account for state police tweeted a video, and said, “Due to an accident on the highway, an explosion occurred resulting in a fire at Via Marco Emilio Lepido. Circulation compromised, not only on the motorway, but also in the Borgo Panigale area.”
#bologna #BORGOPANIGALE Sul posto la #PoliziaStradale sta predisponendo modifiche alla viabilità perché il tratto è chiuso. Si sconsiglia di avvicinarsi alla zona pic.twitter.com/BhYKiRVy4u
— Polizia di Stato (@poliziadistato) August 6, 2018
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