Italy fireworks factory blast death toll rises to 9
The death toll from blasts at an Italian fireworks factory in southern Italy has climbed to nine as one of those wounded in the explosion has succumbed to his injuries.
The new toll was announced on Sunday by hospital sources just a day after another person seriously injured in the blasts at the Fireworks Bruscella factory in the town of Modugno near the southern port city of Bari also died of his wounds, local press reports said.
Seven workers, four Italians, two Indians and an Albanian, died on the spot in the midday blasts on Friday.
The blasts began with the explosion of a van loaded with fireworks, triggering a chain of explosions throughout the family-run business that lasted nearly an hour, totally destroying the plant.
Meanwhile, a local prosecutor’s office in Bari has launched an involuntary homicide inquiry into the deadly incident.
Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella has also announced that everything would be done to discover the cause of the tragedy “as soon as possible.”
Reports also indicate that two Canadair water-bomber aircraft were deployed to prevent the fire caused by the explosions from reaching a nearby forest.
According to local media outlets, such explosions are a relatively regular occurrence in Italy, causing casualties every year.
At this time of the year in Italy, many small towns celebrate religious festivals with fireworks.
The factory was completely rebuilt in 1959 following a similar accident.
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