There are three dead, six workers missing and three injured in an explosion, perhaps caused by a fire, which occurred around 3pm in the hydroelectric power plant of the artificial reservoir of Suvianaon the Bolognese Apennines.
Some burn victims in serious condition were transferred by air ambulance to the hospitals of Cesena and Parma. Research is underway, but also investigations to understand how many workers were involved in the works at that time.
Where the power station is located
Where is the power station located? The artificial lake of Suviana was obtained by damming the Limentra di Treppio stream with a 97 meter high “gravity” dam which, in the 1920s, was the highest in Italy. At the foot of the dam, in 1932, the State Railways built the Suviana power plant whose engine room today consists of two vertical turbine-alternator groups.
Fire 30 meters deep
The fire occurred at about 30 meters deep and rescue operations are extremely complicated. According to Marco Masinara, mayor of Camugnano, work was underway on the turbines and staff were inside the structure. The accident occurred below the water level: there is a lot of smoke and the firefighters are struggling to enter the premises. “To provide aid you need visibility and low temperatures,” said the provincial commander of the Bologna fire brigade Calogero Turturici.
«When we get to the accident floor we will understand better. Even after contacting the Enel manager of the plant”, he added. The fire apparently occurred on the 9th floor, where the transformers are located. It is impossible, at the moment, to hypothesize the causes of the accident, for which the testimonies of those who were on site will be fundamental. The premises are currently submerged in water, rescue operations are not possible, much less inspections to understand what happened.
The reconstruction
On Lake Suviana, in the Bologna area, “in the early afternoon of today a fire affected a transformer of the Bargi hydroelectric power plant”. This was communicated by Enel Green Power, the Enel Group company that deals with the development and management of energy generation activities from renewable sources, which, explains in a note, «promptly activated all the necessary safety measures as per the procedures internal to ensure the correct carrying out of evacuation procedures to protect its personnel”. Enel, it is added, “is in contact and close coordination with the Fire Brigade and the competent authorities”.
Dam not involved
The Suviana reservoir dam was not involved in the accident at the power plant. According to what was learned from rescuers, the explosion occurred in a pumping and turbine power plant located approximately 2 kilometers away. Therefore, at the moment there is no damage to the dam structure
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