Imposing inferno in the streets of Milan after the explosion of an oxygen cylinder truck

DAY

A truck carrying oxygen cylinders exploded Thursday morning in a residential area of ​​Milan (northern Italy), injuring one person and causing large flames and a cloud of black smoke, the AFP a spokesman for the police.

“The hypothesis of an” attack is to be excluded “, immediately made a point of specifying the mayor of the Lombard metropolis Beppe Sala. “It's a van that was carrying oxygen bottles.”

“For the moment I've been told of an injured person (…) I believe it's the driver” , added the mayor who announced that he would go there. Large flames and a cloud of smoke were visible at the site of the explosion, according to images broadcast by the news channels continuously.

The Carabinieri spokesman confirmed to AFP that a person had been injured in the arms and legs, stressing that all the surrounding buildings had been evacuated, including a school.

The explosion occurred around 11:30 a.m. local time (9:30 a.m. GMT) in the Porta Romana district, setting fire to vehicles parked nearby. A building and a pharmacy were also heavily damaged by the explosion.

Police, carabinieri and firefighters immediately mobilized personnel. The fire was contained at 1 p.m., according to an AFP correspondent on site.