Rome explosion: Moment huge blaze rips through Prenestino as fiery blast erupts

This is the terrifying moment apetrol station erupted in a devastating explosion in Rome this morning.

It's understood the explosion happened at a station in the Prenestino area of the Italian capital, with local media reporting several injuries in the aftermath of the blast.

The blast - which was heard across the capital - is thought to have left at least 21 people, including a firefighter and police officer, injured, according to initial reports.

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Terrifying new footage shows the moment the horror blast let out an almighty "bang", shaking the city before the fuel erupted into an enormous mushroom cloud over the eastern district.

Horns are heard blaring as a state of chaos ensues and locals desperately scramble to escape.

Among the injured were members of the public and a number of people living in the area. Roma Today reports that around 40 people had to be rescued from a nearby building after becoming trapped by the flames.

One local resident claims to have been awoken by the sound of the blast. They told Italian outlet La Repubblica: "I woke up with a start, I heard a very loud explosion, it sounded like a bomb."

"We didn't understand what it was, all the glass shook. It could have been a bomb, an earthquake, we didn't understand. Then from the smoke, we realized it was an explosion," Francesco, a resident of a nearby building, told Il Messaggero.

Another believed the sound came from "an earthquake" after "all the windows" in their building started shaking.

The petrol station is situated in a populated residential area and sits close to a nursery and sports club, according to Italian daily, Corriere.

The newspaper added that witnesses reported seeing a fire first, before hearing two almost consecutive explosions - the second of which was the most powerful.

The Vigili del Fuoco fire brigade has issued a statement, saying: "Roma, explosion at a fuel station in via dei Gordiani, Casalino area: one of the firefighters involved.

"Teams are working to extinguish the flames affecting the judicial depot at the back of the refueling station. Several injured people have been assisted.

"Operation in progress, 10 teams at work."

Witnesses reportedly heard the explosion as far into the city as the Vatican.

Did you see what happened? Contact webnews@mirror.co.uk.

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