Two explosions at a fueling station in a suburb of Bucharest on August 26 killed at least one person and injured several others, including more than two dozen first responders, officials in the Romanian capital said.
The first explosion touched off a massive fire and prompted officials to implement an emergency protocol and warn people to stay away from the area of Crevedia, northeast of the city center.
The second explosion occurred after firefighters moved in to battle a blaze touched off by the first explosion. Officials said the total number of people injured was 46, including 26 firefighters who were injured in the second explosion.
Health Minister Alexandru Rafila confirmed the death of one person and referred to a possible second death. Officials said the death toll most likely will go up.
The explosions happened at a fueling station that provides liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used in household appliances and as an alternative to gasoline and diesel in some vehicles.
Emergency situations official Raed Arafat said residents in an area with a radius of 750 meters around the station had been evacuated. One LPG tank was still at risk of exploding, he said.
The number of people evacuated was estimated at 3,000. The evacuation began after at least one private house caught fire, said Crevedia Mayor Florin Petre in an interview with broadcaster Digi24.
In addition to eight people injured in the first explosion, two people who worked in the area where the fire broke out were unaccounted for, Petre said in the interview.
Several ambulances and a helicopter were sent to the scene, and an emergency unit was set up to provide first aid.
Some of the eight people who were injured in the first explosion suffered serious burns and were transported to three hospitals in Bucharest. Some victims were expected to be transferred abroad for treatment.
It is not clear what caused the explosions. There has been no mention of sabotage or that they were caused by an attack.