Prosecutors in Romania have launched an inquiry into two explosions at an unlicensed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) filling station that resulted in two deaths and left 56 people injured. Most of the injured individuals were firefighters who had rushed to the scene in the Crevedia commune to extinguish the blaze from the initial explosion before a second blast occurred. The fire had started during the transfer of gas from one tanker to another, and a source of fire appeared under one of the tankers, according to General Prosecutor Alex Florenta. Speculations include the careless throwing of a cigarette as a possible cause of the fire. The two fatalities were a couple, with the man suffering a heart attack and the woman succumbing to severe burns. Among the injured were 39 firefighters, two police officers, and two gendarmes.

Large explosion near Bucharest, Romania. 🇷🇴 pic.twitter.com/fGwUow16qt

— 🗡️🛡️Sir Rickster🛡️🗡️ (@Rickster_75) August 27, 2023

Some individuals have been transferred abroad for treatment, with Austria, Germany, and Norway offering assistance. The company that owned the gas station had lost its permit to function in July 2020 due to several irregularities, yet its employees continued to conduct gas transfer operations. Additionally, it was discovered that four Nepalese workers were employed at the station, despite being officially hired at a different company outlet. The fire led to the evacuation of residents within a 700-meter radius. Romania has sought assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to treat 18 burn patients.

President Klaus Iohannis expressed his deep sadness and called the explosions a tragedy. There have been concerns in Romania about a lack of official oversight to ensure compliance with safety regulations, and in 2015, a nightclub fire caused by fireworks killed 64 people in Bucharest. An investigation is now underway to determine if any rules were violated, and President Iohannis has called for urgent measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.