At least one person has died and 46 have been hospitalised following two explosions at a petrol station in a Romanian town today.
The first explosion, which happened at the station in Crevedia near the capital Bucharest, led to a fire that spread to two tanks and a nearby house, causing evacuations within a radius of 700 metres.
The second explosion took place some time later, injuring 26 firefighters, Deputy Interior Minister Raed Arafat who is in charge of the emergency response unit told reporters.
The government's emergency response unit (IGSU) say that traffic on the national road was blocked as a result of the evacuation.
Of the 46 injured, eight suffered severe burns, the government said.
"We think four of the patients will more than certainly be transferred tonight to hospitals in Italy and Belgium," Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu told reporters after an emergency meeting with the state agencies involved in handling the crisis.
Some 25 fire engines were deployed at the scene, but the fire has yet to be extinguished.
Mr Arafat said more explosions could happen as a third tank at the site posed a risk.
