(Milan) A truck carrying oxygen cylinders exploded in a residential area of Milan on Thursday morning, injuring one person and causing large flames and a cloud of black smoke, a spokesman for AFP told AFP. the police.
The explosion occurred around 11:30 a.m. local time (5:30 a.m. Eastern Time) in the Porta Romana neighborhood, setting fire to about a dozen vehicles parked nearby, according to a fire department statement. Two apartments and a pharmacy were also heavily damaged.
Large flames and a cloud of smoke were visible on the site immediately after the explosion, according to images broadcast by the news channels continuously.
The fire was contained at 1 p.m., according to an AFP correspondent on the spot.
“I heard three big explosions and more that followed. I came straight away to see what was happening, there was the whole street on fire and people running,” Giuseppe, 39, a worker on a nearby site, told AFP.
Music manager Paolo Prodi, 20, was taking his dog out when he heard the explosions. “I arrived immediately where there were flames and smoke and we entered the building opposite to knock on the doors and help people to evacuate. »
“The hypothesis of an attack is to be excluded”, immediately made a point of specifying the mayor of the Lombard metropolis Beppe Sala. “It is a van that was carrying oxygen cylinders. »
The carabinieri spokesman confirmed to AFP that a person had been injured in the arms and legs.