The death toll after the violent explosion at an Italian hydroelectric power station on Lake Suviana in the Apennines near Bologna on Tuesday – krone.at reports – has risen to six: the bodies of three of the missing workers were recovered on Thursday.
According to rescue units, the search continues for one last missing person. However, there is no hope of finding him alive. The operator of the Enel Green Power Plant is making two million euros available for the families of the victims. The company stressed that it would do everything it could to provide support to the families of the dead and injured.
The explosion could be heard for miles
The exact cause of the accident is still unclear. It is certain that the explosion took place during work on a turbine about 30 meters below water level. Witnesses reported a loud bang that could be heard miles away. As a result of the explosion damage, a lot of water entered the factory, which made rescue efforts difficult. Initially, the power plant was covered in thick smoke.
Electricity production was interrupted
Water drones and divers were used in the search. The dam itself – about two kilometers from the hydroelectric power station – was not affected. The explosion interrupted electricity production, but according to the operating company this had no major consequences for the electricity supply in the region. The power plant supplies electricity to both the Emilia Romagna and Tuscany regions.
The bodies recovered were employees working for subcontractors. Salvatore Bernabei, CEO of Enel Green Power, the direct operator of the hydropower plant, emphasized that the best companies have been selected to work on the turbines.
Strike for more safety in the workplace
An eight-hour strike took place on Thursday in the Emilia Romagna region, where the hydroelectric plant is located, with workers demanding greater workplace safety. Labor Minister Marina Elvira Calderone said the Italian government would do more to promote workplace safety.
Source: Krone
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