Seven people are believed to have died in an explosion at a reservoir in Italy

An explosion occurred at a hydroelectric power station between Bologna and Florence. Three people died and four workers are missing. But the rescue workers have little hope of finding her alive.

Seven workers are believed to have died in a devastating explosion at a hydroelectric power station on a northern Italian reservoir. More than 24 hours after the accident at Lake Suviana, four men are still officially missing. But the rescue workers have little hope of finding them alive in the flooded areas of the facility.

Three workers have already been rescued dead. Five employees had to be taken to hospital with burn injuries, some of them serious.

Lower levels of the complex partially flooded

The dead who have already been recovered are three men between the ages of 35 and 73 who worked for subcontractors. At the reservoir, psychologists look after family members who are following the clean-up work. Regarding the search for the other victims, in which more than 40 firefighters are involved, a spokesman said: “We are working without much hope of finding the missing people alive.”

According to rescue workers, the lower levels of the facility are partially flooded. The dam itself – about two kilometers away – was not affected by the explosion. As a result of the explosion, electricity production was interrupted, but according to the operating company, this has no major impact on the region’s electricity supply.

Water makes it difficult Salvage work

The exact cause of the accident is still unclear. According to initial findings, a fire broke out while working on a turbine at a depth of around 30 meters, which then led to an explosion. This also caused water to enter the building. The fire department had great difficulty getting to the scene of the accident due to heavy smoke.

The reservoir is located in a regional park in the Apennines at an altitude of almost 500 meters. It was created by the construction of a dam between 1928 and 1932. The area is very popular with hikers.