In the aftermath of the fatal explosion at the Eni fuel depot in Calenzano, authorities have initiated a series of searches across multiple sites. Carabinieri conducted a ten-hour operation at the Sergen facility in Grumento Nova (Potenza), the company responsible for maintenance work at the Florence depot. The blast claimed the lives of five individuals, including two Sergen technicians, Gerardo Pepe and Franco Cirelli, and three truck drivers. Investigators are focusing on potential negligence, with charges of manslaughter, disaster, and failure to enforce workplace safety measures currently aimed at unknown parties. Documents and communications related to the maintenance activities, which involved securing a disused fuel line, have been seized as evidence.
Workers Protest as Safety Concerns Resurface
The tragedy has sparked solidarity and outrage among workers nationwide. In Livorno, employees of the Eni refinery staged a two-hour strike at the end of their shifts, with significant participation reported. Similarly, staff from the G&A transport company in Genoa halted operations for an entire day in solidarity with the victims’ families and colleagues. Union leaders expressed frustration over ongoing safety lapses in hazardous industries. Marco Gallo of Filt Cgil Liguria called for immediate action to address workplace safety, emphasizing that “words are no longer enough” to prevent further loss of life.
A Somber Day of Mourning Across Tuscany
On the day of regional mourning, a solemn ceremony took place outside the Eni depot in Calenzano. Officials, workers, and victims’ families gathered to lay flowers and observe a minute of silence. Regional leaders, including Tuscany’s president Eugenio Giani and local mayors, attended the tribute while flags flew at half-mast in Florence and Prato. Other gestures of remembrance included a pause in activities at Florence’s Christmas market and a collective silence in municipal offices. The tragedy has left a profound impact on the community, prompting calls for systemic changes to prevent similar disasters.
