At least one person was injured in a powerful explosion in the center of Milan (Italy) on Thursday morning. The explosion occurred in Pier Lombardo street, in the central Porta Romana area, and according to some witnesses the blast and fire came from a truck carrying oxygen cylinders, reports Il Corriere della Sera.
🇮🇹 | URGENTE: Explosión sacude Milán en Italia dejando varios autos en llamas.
pic.twitter.com/7zBHKSMSna— Alerta News 24 (@AlertaNews24) May 11, 2023
The fire affected several vehicles parked on the street and three floors of a building, causing extensive damage. The fire also affected the pharmacy on the first floor and two floors on the first and second floors. Eventually, the flames were extinguished by firefighters and the Carabinieri (Italian police) cordoned off the area of the explosion.
The nearby Istituto Auxologico Italiano (a medical center) was evacuated; as well as the religious college on Via Vasari and two buildings on Via Pier Lombardo. During the evacuation of the school, a nun was slightly bruised due to a head injury.
According to firefighters, the fire started in the engine compartment of the van. The 53-year-old driver tried to put it out but reached for the oxygen cylinders, a highly flammable gas, accelerating the flames and causing alarm in the Italian city.
