ITALY: RESCUE WORKERS SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS AFTER SUSPECTED GAS EXPLOSION COLLAPSES BLOCK OF FLATS

Record ID: 646076

  • Title: ITALY: RESCUE WORKERS SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS AFTER SUSPECTED GAS EXPLOSION COLLAPSES BLOCK OF FLATS
  • Date: 30th September 1994
  • Summary: MILAN, ITALY (SEPTEMBER 30, 1994) (REUTERS TELEVISION-ACCESS ALL) 1. WS SCENE OF EXPLOSION 0.10 2. GV FIREMEN SIFTING THROUGH RUBBLE (2 SHOTS) 0.20 3. WS MASONRY FALLING FROM DAMAGED BUILDING 0.29 4. GV FIREMEN PASSING BUCKETS OF RUBBLE ALONG LINE 0.37 5. GV CRUSHED VAN 0.42 6. GV RUBBLE COVERING CAR 0.46 7. GV FIREMAN,WEARING MASK, CARRYING HANDBAG FROM RUBBLE 0.50 8. GV BULLDOZER 0.55 9. GV DOG SNIFFING ROUND RUBBLE 1.09 10. GV FIREMEN FINDING SURVIVOR IN RUINS 1.21 11. TS RESCUE SCENE 1.24 12. GV SURVIVOR BEING CARRIED TO AMBULANCE AFTER RECEIVING FIRST AID 1.44 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 15th October 1994 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MILAN, ITALY
  • City:
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA50J2HQWKFJZ8OZMTI27UX83WQ
  • Story Text: Rescue workers in Milan on Friday (September 30) burrowed through rubble looking for survivors, after the collapse of a block of flats in what is thought to have been a gas explosion.

    The death toll after the disaster stands at six, but rescuers fear more victims lie trapped in the debris. At least twelve people were injured. Tonnes (tons) of masonry collapsed onto a popular bar on the ground floor of the building following the blast at around 10 a.m. (0900).

    Firefighters later found one person alive under the rubble, and administered first aid before the survivor was taken to hospital.

    Three of the dead had been walking past the building.

    Authorities have no idea how many people were in the bar at the time of the disaster.

    Hundreds of police and medical workers converged on the scene, using dogs and earth-moving equipment to search for anyone trapped inside, often calling for silence as they listened for signs of life. Rescue workers reported a strong smell of gas as they worked among the rubble.

    Six families living in apartments above the bar had all been accounted for. Some of them were among the injured.

    Dust from the collapse covered cars up to 100 metres (yards) away and personal belongings hung from broken floorboards poking from the wreckage.


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