Several killed in Italian fireworks factory disaster
July 25, 2015
At least seven people have died and three remain missing after a blast at the headquarters of the Bruscella Italian Group fireworks factory in Modugno, near Bari, the capital of the Apulia region.
Several others were injured.
Authorities believe that the first detonation happened in a van, which then triggered further blasts in the factory, according to Italy's ANSA news agency.
"It will take at least 24 hours for firemen to be able to safely access the premises," Prosecutor Giuseppe Volpe told reporters at the accident site.
"Only then will we know the final number of victims, which currently seems tragically high," he added.
Labor Minister Giuliano Poletti said he was "shocked and saddened by the accident "that is more and more turning out to be a tragedy."
In May, another blast at a fireworks factory near Naples killed three people.
mg/cmk (dpa, Reuters)