In this image released by Romania's Emergency Services, ISU Vrancea, firefighters work at the site of an explosion on a highway construction in the area of Calimanesti, eastern Romania, early Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. A gas explosion in Romania early on Thursday killed four people and injured five, emergency authorities in the eastern European country said. (ISU Vrancea via AP)
In this image released by Romania's Emergency Services, ISU Vrancea, firefighters work at the site of an explosion on a highway construction in the area of Calimanesti, eastern Romania, early Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. A gas explosion in Romania early on Thursday killed four people and injured five, emergency authorities in the eastern European country said. (ISU Vrancea via AP)
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A gas explosion at a highway construction site in Romania early Thursday killed four people and injured five, emergency authorities said.
The blast happened around 1 a.m. near the eastern town of Calimanesti, said the emergency office in a statement.
It was caused by the “cracking of a gas transport main and appearance of mechanical sparks" during construction work, spokesperson Florin Olaru said.
Local media said workers hit the pipeline with a digger, causing the explosion.
Authorities sealed off the area some 500 meters (yards) from the blast site as firefighters worked to contain the fire, the statement added.
Four people were found dead on site while five with burns were transferred to an emergency hospital in the town of Adjud.
