Explosion injures dozens at petrol station in Rome

At least 29 people have been injured after a huge explosion at a Rome petrol station caused widespread damage.

Reports say emergency services were already at the scene in the Prenestino neighbourhood on Friday after a tanker truck hit a pipe while manoeuvring, causing a gas leak and smaller initial blast at around 08:00 local time (07:00 BST).

Shortly afterwards, a second, larger explosion rocked the area after a fire broke out, injuring at least nine police officers, according to Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri.

Footage of the blast shows a giant fireball and thick black smoke filling the sky, with the explosion reportedly heard across the city, rattling nearby windows and buildings.

Visiting the scene, Gualtieri said the impact of the explosion had been "terrible" and had caused "enormous damage" - with at least two people suffering burns and another in a serious condition.

Among the injured was a man who had been pulled from a burning car by rescue teams.

Photographs and footage from the scene showed widespread devastation after the blast, including burnt out vehicles and buildings.

Emergency services are continuing to work at the scene.

The mayor added that shortly after the initial explosion, people from nearby buildings, including a sports centre had been evacuated by emergency teams, avoiding what could have been a "much more serious tragedy".

One eyewitness, Massimo Bartoletti told local news outlet Roma Repubblica: "I saw the first explosion with the classic fireball. Shortly after came the second one which was hellish."

"A fiery mushroom formed in the sky. It made the whole area shake. It looked like hell, everything was flying in the sky," he added.

Balzani Fabio, head of a nearby sports centre that was destroyed in the blast said the first fire happened at around 07:30 local time (06:30 BST).

"If it had happened at 08:30 or later it would have been a massacre, a catastrophe," he told AFP.

He added that around 60 children were due to be at the site for a summer camp, with around 120 people booked to use the swimming pool that morning.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is said to be closely monitoring the situation.

In a post on X she wrote: "I express my closeness to all those who are injured -- including law enforcement officers, firefighters and health workers -- and I extend my heartfelt thanks to those involved in the rescue and safety operations".