2018 Borgo Panigale explosion
   | |
| Native name | Esplosione di Borgo Panigale |
|---|---|
| Date | August 6, 2018 |
| Location | A14 autostrada (motorway) within the Borgo Panigale neighbourhood of Bologna, Italy |
| Coordinates | 44°30′55.05″N 11°16′48.85″E / 44.5152917°N 11.2802361°E |
| Type | LPG road tanker boiling-liquid expanding-vapour explosion (BLEVE) |
| Cause | Vehicle collision |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 145 |
On August 6, 2018, the collision of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) road tanker with a car transporter and another tanker carrying flammable solvents resulted in a huge explosion on the A14 motorway within Borgo Panigale, a neighborhood of Bologna, Italy. The explosion was a boiling-liquid expanding-vapour explosion (BLEVE), one where nearly all the road tanker cargo combusted in a matter of seconds upon release, which generated a tremendous amount of thermal radiation. The accident killed two people, injured 145 and caused significant damage to the surrounding commercial and residential area. One span of the viaduct where it happened collapsed and a gash opened on the motorway.[1][2]
Details
The stretch of motorway where the accident occurred crosses a densely populated neighborhood in the outskirts of Bologna. Luckily, many businesses were closed due to the summer holidays.[1]
The fire started at the car transporter, before spreading to the LPG tanker. By chance, police units were on the spot at the time of the accident and diverted traffic away, both on the motorway and the adjacent urban roads.[3]
The BLEVE occurred a few minutes after the collision. Fire services did not have sufficient time to reach the location before the explosion. The fireball diameter was estimated at more than 170 metres (560 ft) and its height above ground at 130 metres (430 ft). Its duration was around 8 seconds. Given the tremendous thermal radiation, people within a radius of 100 metres (330 ft) from the exploded road tanker would have died or received major injuries. The explosion sent fragments hundreds of meters away and shattered windows.[3] Buildings were damaged as far as 200 metres (660 ft) away.[1] A nearby car dealer parking lot caught fire and all the cars on sale were destroyed as a consequence.[3]
One of the truck drivers was among the two deceased. The second victim passed on 14 August. Thirteen among those hospitalized were policemen.[3]
References
- ^ a b c Vanzini, Vasco (February 7, 2019). "Il BLEVE del Borgo" [The BLEVE of Borgo] (PDF). Lavori Pubblici (in Italian). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
- ^ Bosotti, Filippo (December 21, 2021). C-ITS e trasporto di merci pericolose su strada: possibili ambiti di applicazione [C-ITS and Dangerous Goods Road Transportation: Possible Scope of Application] (PDF). Masters dissertation (in Italian). Milano, Italy: Politecnico di Milano. p. 38. hdl:10589/183404. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Traffic Accident Caused Major Explosion in Bologna". Riskope. August 15, 2018. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
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