Emergency services rushed to the scene following the blast, which took place shortly after 2 pm.

According to La Repubblica, the explosion was loud enough to be heard in several parts of Livorno.

The area around the tank was evacuated and teams of firefighters were on hand, though no fire was reported. The area was secured within a couple of hours.

Photos from the scene show the tank keeling over after the blast.

Mi sto precipitando a #Livorno da #Firenze, viste le tragiche notizie che arrivano dal porto, dove una violenta esplosione ha distrutto una cisterna e provocato, pare, morti e feriti pic.twitter.com/dFg89gRIYi — Filippo Nogarin (@nogarin) March 28, 2018

An image shared by the mayor of Livorno, Filippo Nogarin, who visited the port after the blast.

The shore tank, which was located in the Neri industrial depot specialized in the storage of liquids, is said to have contained the flammable substance ethyl acetate.

The two men killed are believed to have been carrying out maintenance near the unit, which had reportedly been emptied.

According to reports, they were employees of local environmental services company Labromare, one aged 52 and the other 25.

One victim died instantly, while the other was still alive when emergency services arrived but could not be resuscitated, Repubblica said.



The Neri depot is north of the passenger terminal where cruise ships dock. Image: Google Maps

The mayor of Livorno, Filippo Nogarin, visited the port hours after the incident, which he called an "immense tragedy".

"How much longer does the list of victims and workplace tragedies need to get before we manage to do something," he said, calling for a full investigation into the explosion.

Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni also expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and his solidarity with Livorno, Nogarin said.</s>Livorno, March 28 - Two workers were killed and another was seriously injured in the explosion of a fuel tank at Livorno's industrial port on Wednesday. The tank contained ethyl acetate. The accident happened inside the Costiero Nero depot at the port, sources said. According to an initial reconstruction the workers were doing maintenance work and the tank had been emptied. The two dead workers, from the Livorno-based Labromare company, were working outside the tank. The area was evacuated.</s>FLORENCE, Italy (REUTERS) - An explosion at an industrial cistern in the Tuscan port of Livorno, one of Italy's biggest passenger and commercial harbours, killed two people on Wednesday (March 28), an official said.

The two men had been doing maintenance on the storage tank when the blast occurred, the port authority official said.

It had contained ethyl acetate, a combustible liquid, la Repubblica newspaper's website said.

Commercial and passenger services in Livorno were not likely to be affected, the port authority official said.</s>Livorno, March 28 - Two workers were killed and another was seriously injured in the explosion of a fuel tank at Livorno's industrial port on Wednesday. Sources said there may be more injured workers. The accident happened inside the Costiero Nero depot at the port, sources said. According to an initial reconstruction the workers were doing maintenance work and the tank had been emptied.</s>FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - An explosion at an industrial cistern in the Tuscan port of Livorno, one of Italy’s biggest passenger and commercial harbors, killed two people on Wednesday, an official said.

The two men had been doing maintenance on the storage tank when the blast occurred, the port authority official said.

Photographs posted online showed a large metal cistern partially crumpled and leaning sideways. It had contained ethyl acetate, a combustible liquid, la Repubblica newspaper’s web site said.

Commercial and passenger services in Livorno were not likely to be affected, the port authority official said.</s>Florence, March 28 - Several workers are said to have been injured after a fuel tank exploded at Livorno's industrial port on Wednesday, according to witnesses. Firefighters and ambulance crews are on the scene. The area of the fuel-oil deposit has been completely evacuated, sources said.</s>Think of Magic Tank as a $30 "insurance policy" or "spare tire" for your gas tank. (Photo Source: WMC Action News 5)

Think of Magic Tank as a $30 "insurance policy" or "spare tire" for your gas tank.



It's a half-gallon petroleum derivative. Translation: it won't explode while you keep its container in your trunk, but poured into your tank, it will keep your engine going until the next gas station.

"The product works exactly like gasoline because it comes from gasoline," said Magic Tank's CEO Steve Bistritzky, who came to Memphis to stand behind his product. "All we've done is taken out the highly flammable components, which is obviously what makes gasoline very volatile."

He poured a cup of Magic Tank, lit a match and tossed it in. After wincing and opening one eye, I realized we were still around -- and so was the Magic Tank.

OK, that was cool. Now it was time to get the Chevy Suburban on the rack.

Scott Westbrook of Westbrook Automotive in Southeast Memphis drained all the gas out of his sister Trina Slocum's Suburban -- all except the reserve, which cannot be removed mechanically from GMC models.

Then Slocum took us for a ride until that sucker ran out of gas.

"This product is made to help and protect your family, your friends, whoever may be using your car, in the event you may run out of gasoline," emphasized Bistritzky.



After pulling over to safety, we added Magic Tank -- to her tank -- using the convenient funnel that comes with it. She started it up.

After a few coughs, a couple of wheezes, ka-chung ... that Suburban started right up and carried us the 3-plus miles back to the shop.

"It works!" exclaimed Slocum. "It gives me a lot of peace of mind that if I ran out of gas, it would get me to the next gas station."

It is not flammable. It carries a 10-year shelf life. Both guarantee Magic Tank is perfectly safe to store inside your vehicle.

The only caveats are:

* You may need to carry more than a 1/2 gallon, depending on your vehicle's tank size and on how low you are on fuel.

* The engine must be warm for Magic Tank to combust.

* It cannot work in diesel engines. But it can work in any engine -- generators, lawn mowers, boats, whatever -- that accepts gasoline.</s>It was only though injury to first-choice Italy goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca that Gianluigi Buffon made his debut for the national team.

On October 1997 in snowy Moscow, a 19-year-old Buffon seized his chance off the bench replacing Pagliuca just past the hour mark as Italy battled to a 1-1 draw in a 1998 World Cup qualifier against Russia.

More than 20 years on, Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to be handed a similar opportunity when he starts Italy's friendly against England at Wembley.

Donnarumma's path to the Italy goalkeeping jersey has been mapped out far more clearly than Buffon's was, having made his debut for the national side at just 17.

That debut saw an iconic changing of the guard as he replaced Buffon at half-time of Italy's friendly against France in 2016.

Buffon appears to have embraced Donnarumma as his heir apparent and the veteran joked that his namesake, 21 years his junior, 'could be his son'. Apologies to Italy's third-choice Mattia Perrin.

The Juventus legend has hailed the youngster's progress as extraordinary and even touted him as his replacement at club level as well as for the national team.

But despite his comments, the 40-year-old stubbornly clung on to the Italy No 1 spot for two further years and has now amassed a remarkable 176 caps for the Azzurri.

Buffon's international career finally looked over when he was denied a fifth World Cup at Russia 2018 as Italy crashed out in the qualification play-offs to Sweden and he retired in tears at the end of the match.

The goalkeeper's dream had been to captain Italy to the Jules Rimet trophy in Russia at 40 just as legendary stopper Dino Zoff had done at Spain 1982.

But he performed a U-turn as he announced his comeback for this month's friendlies against Argentina and Italy having been convinced by new manager Luigi di Biagio not to bow out with the Sweden defeat.

Buffon will now bring the curtains down on his epic international career with an emotional farewell at his home ground Juventus Stadium in June's friendly against Holland. It could be his 180th cap.

The very first of those caps did not prompt a seamless transition into the famous jersey. Buffon was forced to play second-fiddle to Pagliuca until well after the 1998 World Cup.

It was only for the Euro 2000 qualification campaign, with Italy managed by fellow keeper Zoff, that Buffon assumed his position as No 1.

But even then disaster struck when just days before the tournament, Buffon broke his hand saving a John Carew shot during a warm-up game against Norway.

Buffon was then forced to beat out competition from deputy Francesco Toldo to earn back his spot for World Cup 2002 qualification. He was first-choice as Italy reached the last 16 before their controversial defeat to joint-hosts South Korea.

Further disappointment followed in Euro 2004 as they were eliminated in the group stages but Buffon's finest moment in an Italy shirt was to come two years later.

Buffon entered the tournament under a cloud, with the fallout from Juventus' Calciopoli match-fixing scandal rumbling on, he was pulled away from Italy's World Cup training camp to appear before a Parma magistrates court.

But despite the distractions, Buffon would deliver a record-breaking performance to lead Italy to World Cup success in Germany.

With his supreme athleticism, Buffon became the first keeper to concede just twice in seven matches and delivered an iconic save to deny the host nation's Lukasz Podolski in the semi-final.

Up against France in the final, Buffon made a reaction stop with his fingertips to keep out Zinedine Zidane's header with Italy under heavy pressure.

Zidane's sending off and Fabio Grosso's winning penalty in the shoot-out are the memorable moments from the match but Buffon's stop was just as crucial.

At Euro 2008 Italy were dumped out by eventual winners Spain, despite Buffon saving in the penalty shoot-out and at the 2010 World Cup, in South Africa, injury struck in the tournament's opening match as he was forced to watch his country crash out at the group stages.

Buffon assumed the captaincy for Euro 2012 and denied England's Ashley Cole from the penalty spot as he led his country to the final before a chastening 4-0 loss at the hands of Spain.

Italy exited the World Cup in the group stages for the second consecutive time at Brazil 2014 before a run to the quarter-finals at Euro 2016.

Buffon performed admirably in both tournaments during a tumultuous period for the national side as he overtook Fabio Cannavaro as Italy's record appearance holder but will retire having failed to add to his 2006 World Cup triumph.

Tuesday evening at Wembley will be the last time England face Buffon, the first demonstrates the remarkable length of the goalkeeper's international career.

Then aged 22, Buffon kept a clean sheet at Juventus' old Stadio delle Alpi ground against a Three Lions side captained by David Beckham and featuring Gary Neville and Ray Parlour.

Both current managers played that day, with Gareth Southgate starting for England and Di Biagio featuring off the bench for Italy. Every other player involved in that friendly other then Buffon has long-since retired.

Last man standing then and still going now, Buffon's endurance is remarkable and he will retire having long secured his standing as the greatest ever incumbent of the famous Italian goalkeeping jersey. Donnarumma has big shoes to fill.</s>WHO NEEDS Amazon's drone delivery service when you can get your beer delivered right to your lap via toy tank?

 

 That's the mantra of software developer Balázs Simon anyway, who has posted detailed of his latest project on Hacktser, dubbed WalaBeer Tank.

 

 The tank is essentially a remote controlled toy featuring a crane system that is voice controlled, making it the most manchild way to have your beer delivered.

It can also be controlled entirely using Amazon's Alexa, using the following commands: Ask beer tank to turn [on/off] the lights; ask beer tank to [open/close] the cargo hold; and ask beer tank to [follow me/start/stop]. (lol).

 

 "There are things that, deep inside, every man wants to have. Combining beer and tanks is one of these things," said simon in the abstract section of the project's webpage. "This project will be about this thing, a voice-controlled tank that delivers beer to you with an autonomous function or with an RC control. Let's build the beer tank of our dreams!"

Simon believes that one of his tank's best features is its "follow me" mode. 

 

 "If you ask the beer tank to follow you it will do its best and follow you. Once you have reached your destination you just ask for the beer inside. It is a great party trick," he said.

This comes in the form of Walabot, which makes for the ‘Wala' part of the tank's name. Walabot is a 3D sensor that uses microwaves for imaging. It can do things like see through walls, detect breathing from a distance, see in the dark and more. Simon used Walabot just for the navigation sensor on the tank, hosted via a Raspberry Pi unit.

 

 Those wanting to build their own WalaBeer tank can find all the instructions to do so on Hackster. µ</s>For centuries Italy has housed its convicts and political enemies on some of the myriad tiny islands that dot its stunning coastline.

Though they once held some of the country's most-wanted criminals, these prison islands are now among its most-wanted vacation destinations.

Thanks to their remote locations and a former resident who once acted as a deterrent to visitors, many of these one-time penal colonies are largely unspoiled.

Tourists are few, beaches are pristine and flora and fauna abundant.

The island that inspired Alexander Dumas's "The Count of Monte Cristo" novel is now as hard to reach as it was once to escape from.

Wild and uncontaminated, Montecristo is so pristine it's been designated a biogenetic reserve by the European Union and is now home to the island's solitary guardian, some wild goats and a few seals.

Getting there: The island allows just 1,000 visits per year and there's a long waiting list, managed by Italy's forest service (+39 056640019).

Those that do get permission for day trips will need to hire a boat.

Once there they'll get a tour from a state forest guide, taking in a cave and monastery dedicated to hermit Saint Mamilian, who is said to have defeated a dragon here about 1,500 years ago.

Known as the Black Pearl of the Mediterranean, this volcanic island is closer to the coast of Tunisia than it is to Italy.

Tunisia's scents and flavors are everywhere and most location names on the island are Arabic.

The island has changed hands numerous times in the centuries since prehistoric nomads left tombs known as "sesi" scattered across the fertile landscape.

Pantelleria has been a strategic Mediterranean hub for the Romans and Phoenician traders and was later occupied by the Spanish, who established a penal colony here.

Among the attractions are the white cone-shaped ancient dwellings, known as dammusi.

There are also geysers, hot springs and the Elephant Arc -- a gigantic trunk-shaped rock that dips into the cobalt sea.

For wine lovers, the island's fertile land produces great bottles such as Passito, a sweet amber-colored wine nicknamed "Pantelleria's gold."

Closer to Corsica than mainland Italy, Capraia's volcanic origins can be seen in its reddish Mars-like cliffs.

The island, whose name means "goat" in Italian, hasn't housed prisoners since its penal colony closed in 1986, leaving a collection of spooky dungeons that are now on its list of attractions.

A single road connects the port to a medieval village where the San Giorgio fort, once the population's shelter during pirate attacks, overlooks the sea.

At Il Carabottino (Via San Giorgio), a restaurant in a stone house, the local cook serves up whatever her fisherman husband catches in the net.

This black rock jutting out of waters is topped by a gigantic, abandoned prison fortress built by the Spanish Bourbons in the 1700s.

The donut-shaped prison structure is a grim circle of hell. Its cells featured only inward-facing windows to prevent inmates from looking out to sea -- a view that on a clear day features Mount Vesuvius.

Thousands of anti-royalists and later, during the last century, anti-Fascists perished here.

One of modern Italy's founding fathers and presidents, socialist Sandro Pertini, was shipped here by his enemy Benito Mussolini.

Boats moor at a tiny anchoring point close to "Julia's Tub," a natural wave-carved rock pool that the ancient Romans used as a Jacuzzi.

Italy's only island still functioning as a prison, Gorgona is covered in typical Mediterranean bush vegetation.

Inmates work in vineyards and farms, making wine bottles, cheese, biscuits and pasta.

There's a tiny fishermen village with 20 inhabitants, a church and lighthouse.

Getting there: Sentieri organizes daily boat trips from the mainland port of Livorno and guided trekking tours to the isle's Cala Maestra cliff and a mosaic-covered Roman villa.

Only 75 tourists are allowed each day.

There's a small guest house run by prison authorities (+39 0586861032) that offers food and shelter for the night, but usually only in emergencies.

In local dialect Ventotene's name means "where the wind blows."

Lying midway between Rome and Naples, it's the farthest out of the Pontines, a collection of islands off Italy's western coast.

Ventotene was established as a prison island in Roman times and was where Emperor Nero shipped his wife Claudia Octavia in the first century on false charges of adultery.

Mussolini imprisoned many of his opponents here, including Altiero Spinelli, a political theorist who is considered a founding father of the European Union.

The ancient Roman port is still used today but the former prisoners' cells have been transformed into pink, yellow and purple summer houses.

Top attractions include the Calanave beach, the Roman Villa of Giulia and the ancient fishery.

Once a penal colony, Asinara is now a protected park populated by more than 650 animal species, including wild albino donkeys that freely graze the land.

Bird watching, fishing, sailing and horseback riding are among the island's attractions.

With its red, yellow and white cliffs, Ponza is renowned for being one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, and took a starring role in Wes Anderson's movie, "The Life Aquatic."

Mussolini was jailed here for several weeks in 1943 after he was overthrown and arrested.

Today, Ponza is an elite destination where Roman vacationers rub shoulders with VIPs, fashionistas and soccer players.

Bar Tripoli serves the best aperitifs while Covo Nord Est disco offers wild nights.

Shaped like a flat T-bone steak and covered in fossils and shells, Pianosa fictionally played host to Joseph Heller's paradox-ensared U.S. Army Air Corps bomber crews in "Catch-22."

In real life the island's maximum security prison, which closed in 1998, held some of Italy's most feared Mafia criminals.

People have been incarcerated on what convicts called "Devil's Island" for centuries -- Emperor Augustus' nephew Agrippa Postumus was jailed and sentenced to death here in 14 A.D.

There are guided tours on mountain bike, foot or horseback.

When Italy invaded Libya in 1911 thousands of Libyan prisoners were shipped and jailed on this butterfly-shaped island, the biggest of the Egadi isles off the western tip of Sicily.

Mostly barren, it's known for its deep caves of calcareous rocks -- and its sunset aperitifs.

The tonnara -- a gruesome, traditional tuna-killing festival also known as "mattanza" or the massacre -- was held here until it was banned in 2008, typically attracting hundreds of visitors.

There are still fishy attractions -- it's possible to take guided tours of the fish processing plant and a museum (+39 0923925443).

Accommodation includes Hotel delle Cave, a restyled old building with underground gardens, tunnels and pools.
A tank containing ethyl acetate explodes in a port in Livorno, Italy, killing two people.