Final death toll of Italy hydroelectric plant blast rises to 7

Reuters

Italian rescuers have found the bodies of the last two missing workers from an explosion at a hydroelectric plant near Bologna three days ago, a spokesperson for the fire brigade said on Friday, bringing the final death toll to seven.

On Tuesday, a fire that broke out on a transformer and the subsequent blast rocked the plant on the shores of the artificial Lake Suviana, owned by Enel Green Power, a unit of utility group Enel.

The explosion has heightened concerns by trade unions about workplace safety in Italy, where over 1,000 people lost their lives while working last year, according to a report by the country's national workers' compensation authority INAIL.

Divers recovered the bodies from the ruins of a turbine hall some nine levels - 40 metres or so - below the lake.

Rescue efforts were interrupted in the late morning of Friday after the last corpses were found, the spokesperson added.

The cause of the accident has not been established and Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation, as is mandatory in such cases.

More from International news

News

  • Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives resumes food aid to Gaza

    In line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) has announced the resumption of food aid deliveries worth AED43 million to the Gaza Strip,

  • DoH launches Future Health Initiative

    Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi (Future Health) has been launched by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH).

  • Salik to apply peak-hour toll rates for Dubai Ride

    Toll gate operator Salik said it will charge peak-hour fees on Sunday, November 2, as the Dubai Fitness Challenge's first flagship event - Dubai Ride - gets underway.