A devastating gas explosion early Monday morning in Saviano, near Naples, Italy, has claimed the lives of four family members, including two young children. The blast partially collapsed their two-storey home, leaving the town in shock.
The victims of the tragedy include a boy, a girl, their mother, and their grandmother. The father and a newborn baby, however, were rescued alive from the rubble, with the father in serious condition and the baby’s injuries considered non-life-threatening, according to local reports.
Italian firefighters, the Vigili del Fuoco, who led the rescue operation, said, “The family lived together on one floor of the house, while the grandmother resided on the floor above.”
The explosion, which occurred around 7:00 a.m. local time, is believed to have been caused by a gas leak, although the investigation into the exact cause is ongoing. Drone footage from the scene revealed gaping holes in the roof, with much of the building reduced to rubble.
Rescue teams, assisted by over 60 civil protection volunteers and sniffer dogs, worked tirelessly throughout the day and into the night to recover the victims. The mother’s body was found at 4:45 p.m., while the grandmother was located after midnight.
The community remains in mourning as authorities continue their investigation into this tragic incident.
