AN explosion on an Italian overpass claimed at least two lives and injured dozens of others after a tanker exploded and caused part of the road to collapse. The deadly accident occurred near Borgo Paginale, to the west of Bologna. Footage from the scene in the northern city showed a huge fireball shooting into the sky. Plumes of black smoke could be seen from many kilometres away. Terrorism fears were quickly dismissed by local police, who said the cause of the blast was a tanker that exploding after a collision. The tanker was believed to be carrying liquefied petroleum gas. As many as 70 people were injured, some with serious burns. Many of the victims had been hit by flying glass when windows in nearby buildings exploded, a local television network reported. Terrified residents reported their houses “shook” when the vehicle exploded at around 12.50pm. The Italian news agency ANSA reported the explosion was caused by an accident involving the tanker, which exploded upon impact. Cosa sta succedendo? Esplosione in corso a #bologna pic.twitter.com/nDEjgRt8bk — Biagio Tozzi (@biagiotozzi) August 6, 2018 The force of the explosion caused raised part of the highway to collapse. Italian firefighters tweeted that they had sent rescue and emergency squads, including one from their urban search and rescue team. Images released earlier by the fire service showed burning cars in an adjacent carpark. One video filmed by a motorist circulating on Twitter shows the moment the tanker exploded, when a black plume of smoke is suddenly swept away by a powerful ball of flame that takes over the entire horizon. A video published on Twitter by the fire service showed a huge column of black smoke billowing from the wreckage of the truck. Images released earlier by the fire service showed burning cars in an adjacent carpark. andrew.koubaridis@news.com.au<doc-sep>Bologna Airport: Plumes of smoke fill the sky following explosion top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Officials said one person, the driver of the truck, has died and a further 145 remained injured, 14 seriously, in the explosion which occurred near the Borgo Panigale bypass in Bologna just after 2pm local time (1pm GMT). Among the casualties, there are also 11 police officers and two traffic cops who were redirecting the traffic slowed down from a previous road incident. Part of the motorway has collapsed in the explosion and pictures from the scene show firefighters searching through the rubble for anyone that may have been trapped. Shock footage emerged on Twitter showing the massive fireball from the explosion near the Bologna Airport in northern Italy. Pictures on social media also show plumes of smoke rising into the sky above the site of the explosion. Huge clouds of smoke can be seen filtering across part of the road as drivers caught up in the incident sway to dodge smoke and flames. Firefighters have rushed to the scene and are currently battling the flames, according to local reports. Ambulance crews and a police helicopter are also in attendance. An explosion has been witnessed in Bologna, Italy Bologna explosion: The picture shows the moment of the collision between the truck and the lorry Bologna explosion: The contact between the two vehicles immediately sparked a fire The huge smoke column caused by the fire could be seen around the entire city of Bologna. Police have confirmed the explosion was sparked after an accident on the highway involving a truck with flammable cargo. Bologna Police’s official Twitter account said: “Due to accident on the highway, there was an explosion resulting in a fire via Marco Emilio Lepidus. “Impaired circulation, not only on the highway, but also in the area of Borgo Panigale." Bologna Airport: Explosion causes huge fireball to fly into sky Bologna explosion: Huge plumes of smoke were scene rises from the scene According to Italian daily Repubblica, a truck transporting a flammable cargo rear-ended a lorry ahead of it. The collision sparked a fire immediately and triggered an explosion within a few minutes, Repubblica continued. The public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation looking into possible manslaughter. And authorities came together to address the terrible tragedy. Bologna explosion: The fire spread quickly on the road Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will tomorrow head to Bologna. He said: "Tomorrow I will go to Bologna and Foggia, where today there had been two severe and deadly incidents, to let know the whole government is near the casualties and families of the victims. "I am thanking the emergency services and local authorities with whom I have been constantly in contact throughout the day." Premier Conte referred to another deadly car incident in Foggia, a city in southern Italy, that saw a van and a lorry clash earlier today. Pictures of the partially collapse motorway bridge show what appears to be the remains of a burned out vehicle. The explosion also caused dozens of cars parked in two nearby car dealership to explode, fuelling the inferno. Bologna explosion: The blast as seen just metres away from another vehicle Bolgna explosion: Burned out vehicles still smouldering Burned out cars were photographed on the road below as a fireman attempted to put out the smouldering wrecks. Unconfirmed reports said the fireball erupted into the sky after a serious vehicle collision between a lorry carrying other cars and a tank truck, which was likely carrying flammable material. Several cars from some nearby dealerships caught fire and exploded, Italy's TGcom24 news website added. The explosion has sparked panic on Twitter as users shared pictures and footage of huge fireball. Bologna explosion: The extinguishing of the flames has been made difficult by the extreme heat Bologna Airport: Aftermath of huge explosion One Twitter user said: “I was literally looking out my window and suddenly there was a lot of fire in the air.” Another questioned: “What's with the explosion near Bologna airport in Italy?” And Marco Rosadini told Repubblica: "I still have my car parked below the bridge, I am waiting to see if and when I'll be able to go and get it. "I was here for work-related reasons. I was eating at the restaurant 'Il Randagio' when we heard a violent explosion. "I thought it was a terror attack. Bologna explosion: The highway bridge has partially collapsed after the explosion Bologna explosion: A general view of the motorway after the incident<doc-sep>A road accident caused a large explosion and a fire near Bologna airport. Two trucks collided on a motorway near Bologna airport in northern Italy on Monday, sending a huge ball of fire and billows of black smoke soaring into the sky. At least two people were killed and more than 60 were injured, according to local media. Police said they had closed off the road where the crash took place as well as the surrounding area in Borgo Panigale, on the outskirts of Bologna. Italian media said a lorry carrying cars collided on a bridge with another tanker lorry containing inflammable materials. Part of the bridge collapsed and the resulting explosion and fire spread to a carpark below the bridge, where several other vehicles caught fire and exploded. Firefighters and ambulances headed to the scene. A video shot from a parked car at the moment of the explosion appeared to show someone being engufled by flames when the tanker exploded. In a separate incident on Monday, 12 migrant labourers died in the southern Italian region of Puglia when the van they were travelling in smashed into a lorry. © Thomson Reuters 2018<doc-sep>
A huge explosion on a highway near Bologna airport in northern Italy has killed one person and left at least 70 injured, some with serious burns, police said. The explosion was caused when a tanker truck carrying explosive materials crashed in a traffic accident. The news agency ANSA said the tanker was carrying liquefied petroleum gas. Authorities revised the death toll down from two on Tuesday. Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy Show all 15 1 /15 Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy An aerial view of the fire caused by a tanker exploding, triggering a series of blasts causing the collapse of a road in Bologna Vigili del Fuoco/EPA Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy A view of a partially collapsed section of the motorway bridge of the Casalecchio A1-A14 junction following a road accident in Bologna, northern Italy. EPA Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy Burned vehicles at a car park after a major fire spread following the accident Vigili del Fuoco/EPA Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy Two persons were killed and at least 60 others were wounded after a tanker exploded triggering a series of blasts causing the collapse of a road, media reported Vigili del Fuoco/AFP/Getty Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy Vigili del Fuoco/EPA Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy Firefighters work at the scene where the tanker truck exploded AFP/Getty Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy A firefighter walks past a line of burned vehicles EPA Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy The explosion seen at Borgo Panigale Daniele Giovanardi/Reuters Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy Emergency services move an injured person EPA Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy REUTERS Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy A damaged section of the motorway bridge EPA Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy A helicopter transporting water flies over the site AFP/Getty Images Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy EPA Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy AFP/Getty Images Bologna explosion: truck explodes near airport in Italy Injured people receive medical attention AFP/Getty Images Footage and pictures on social media showed the blast and thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Several rescue and emergency squads were sent to the scene, Italy’s firefighters tweeted, including one from their urban search and rescue team. Italian news channel Sky TG24 reported that some of the injured people had been hit by flying glass when windows in nearby buildings exploded. Police said they had closed off the motorway as well as the surrounding area in Borgo Panigale, on the outskirts of Bologna. “Due to an accident on the Autostrada, there was an explosion resulting in a fire at Via Marco Emilio Lepido. “Impaired circulation, not only on the highway, but also in the area of Borgo Panigale.” In a tweet about the explosion, the city’s airport said it was not affected. “Huge explosion on the Bologna motorway, Bologna airport is not involved, flights are running regularly,” the airport said on its Twitter account. Video also showed cars and bushes on fire at a Peugeot dealership beneath the motorway. The person filming then zooms out to show damage to the balcony they are standing on.