A strong explosion, followed by the smell of gas, caused the collapse of part of the facade of a building in the Gradini San Matteo in Toledo, in the Spanish Quarter of Naples. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the accident caused a lot of fear among residents and tourists in the area.
The first hypotheses on the causes of the explosion lead to a gas leak from a pipe in the system serving the building. The firefighters, who intervened on site together with the police and ASL staff, are carrying out the necessary checks to confirm this hypothesis.
At the moment, the wall at the height of the balcony affected by the explosion is being removed. The residents were removed for safety reasons and the area was cordoned off.
The explosion occurred on the fifth floor of the building, at number 126. According to initial information, the affected apartment was temporarily uninhabited. However, checks are underway on nearby apartments.
Fortunately, no one was on the staircase below at the time of the collapse, which caused pieces of plaster and stones to fall. The area is in fact very popular with tourists and children, who only a few minutes earlier found themselves playing there.
The incident has caused much fear and unease among residents, who are calling for greater checks on the safety of buildings and gas systems.
Investigations are underway to ascertain the exact causes of the explosion and to identify any responsibilities.
