At least four workers were killed in an explosion at a hydroelectric power plant on a reservoir in northern Italy on Tuesday.
The authorities feared in the evening that the number of fatalities at the plant on the Suviana reservoir between the cities of Bologna and Florence could rise: Several hours after the accident, which occurred at around 3 pm (1300 GMT), three workers were still missing. At least five workers suffered burn injuries.
According to initial findings, fire broke out in the plant during work on a turbine at a depth of around 30 metres for an initially unexplained reason, which then led to the explosion. As a result of the explosion, water also entered the power plant, according to the findings.
The dam itself - around 2 kilometres away - was not affected. The fire brigade had great difficulty reaching the site of the accident due to heavy smoke.
The mayor of the nearby small town of Camougnano, Marco Masinara, reported that work was being carried out on the turbines inside the building. The accident occurred far below the water level at level minus nine, he said.
The renewable company Enel Green Power, which owns the power station, confirmed the accident without providing further details.
"With reference to the serious accident that occurred at the Bargi power plant near Bologna this afternoon, Enel Green Power is collaborating with all the competent authorities and expresses its condolences and closeness to the personnel involved and their families, who represent the priority for the Company," Enel Green Power said in a statement.
The CEO of Enel Green Power, Salvatore Bernabei, went to the site "to personally follow the situation as it evolves," the statement added.
The fire brigade was deployed with more than 40 volunteers and several helicopters.
The provincial commander of the Bologna fire brigade, Calogero Turturici, told the television station E-TV: "There is a lot of smoke. We are struggling to get into the premises." The site was also flooded with water, he said.
When asked about the cause, Turturici said: "If the scene of the accident is not accessible, it is difficult to hypothesize one way or another."
The lake is located in a regional park in the Apennines at an altitude of just under 500 metres above sea level.
It was created by the construction of a dam between 1928 and 1932, and the area is also very popular with hikers.
