- Title: At least three dead, six missing in Sicily as buildings collapse
- Date: 12th December 2021
- Summary: RAVANUSA, ITALY (DECEMBER 12, 2021) (REUTERS) BODY OF VICTIM BEING WHEELED AWAY ON TROLLEY BY MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL CIVIL PROTECTION AGENCY VARIOUS OF RESCUERS AT SCENE SEARCHING FOR MISSING PEOPLE DAMAGED BUILDING / RESCUERS SEARCHING FOR MISSING PEOPLE DAMAGED PART OF BUILDING RESCUERS REMOVING DEBRIS AND SEARCHING FOR MISSING PEOPLE MEDIA / RESIDENTS LOOKING AT DESTROYED BUILDINGS MAN WEARING FACE MASK LOOKING AT DESTROYED BUILDINGS FIRE-BRIGADE TRUCK RESCUERS REMOVING DEBRIS AND SEARCHING FOR MISSING PEOPLE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) PRIEST OF RAVANUSA, FILIPPO BARBERA, SAYING: "Last night at around 2045 (1945 GMT) while celebrating the Eucharist with the brothers of the Neocatechumenal Way in the mother church, which is about fifty metres away, we heard a loud bang, the doors flew open and the windows shattered. We didn't know what it was, so we interrupted the church service to help. When we arrived at the scene we saw the flames. Apparently, two buildings collapsed because of a gas leak in a methane pipeline. Buildings collapsed, there were flames, and rescuers arrived immediately. The first to arrive was the mayor (Carmelo D'Angelo) who tried to help as much as he could. We immediately realised that the situation was dramatic because eleven people were missing. Two people around half past two in the morning were extracted alive from the rubble and are now in the orthopaedic ward of Licata hospital, and two elderly people were extracted dead. Seven people living in the buildings are still missing and it is not known whether there were also other people involved. It is a huge tragedy that affected the whole community. Our bishop, about twenty minutes after the explosion, called immediately and asked about what had happened. Until midnight he was in contact with us for news. We must pray to ask God to avoid more deaths, including a young father and others. Let us pray that the Lord can do everything. May more deaths be spared. Thank you." DEBRIS ON STREET / DAMAGED BUILDING DAMAGED WINDOWS VARIOUS OF DAMAGED CAR AND DEBRIS
- Embargoed: 26th December 2021 08:12
- Keywords: Agrigento Italy Ravanusa Sicily building collapse casualties explosion fatalities gas explosion rescue operation rubble
- Location: RAVANUSA, ITALY
- City: RAVANUSA, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA001F7QE1C7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: At least three people died in the collapse of two buildings in the Sicilian town of Ravanusa following a gas explosion, the captain of the local fire-fighters said on Sunday (December 12).
Six people were missing and two were found alive under the rubble of the building.
A priest who was celebrating mass near the buildings on Saturday (December 11) evening said the houses were set alight after a natural gas pipe exploded in the town of 11,000 near Agrigento, the south-western Sicilian city famous for its Greek temples.
"We heard a loud bang, the doors flew open and the windows shattered", the archpriest of Ravanusa, Filippo Barbera, told Reuters.
"It is a huge tragedy...let's pray to ask God to avoid more deaths," he added.
Firemen were still digging in the rubble for the missing, including a young man.
The fire brigade said the gas leak seemed to come from the underground network of pipes in the area and not from a single source. The gas appeared to have accumulated in the area and may have been ignited by the use of the lift.
According to Carabinieri military police, the explosion damaged at least another five buildings in the centre of town.
(Production: Antonio Parrinello, Fabiano Franchitti) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None