Explosion in Naples' Spanish Quarters: No Injuries Reported

There was an explosion, accompanied by a strong smell of gas, at the San Matteo Steps in the Spanish Quarters, in Naples at number 126. The wall adjacent to the balcony of the fifth floor is reported to have come down. A layer of dust covers the parked cars and the entire staircase below is covered with stones. There was considerable fear, but no injuries. Firefighters and police cordoned off the area and evacuated people before starting checks in the building. According to initial investigations conducted by the firefighters, the explosion that shattered part of the condominium facade was caused by a gas pipe serving the area. The firefighters, who rushed to the scene along with the police and health personnel, are verifying the circumstance reported by some local residents that the pipe in question had recently undergone maintenance work. A crowd of people, kept at a distance for safety reasons, follows the work of the firefighters who are chiseling away at the wall at the height of the balcony affected by the explosion. Suddenly, residents report, there was a loud noise, like an explosion, and some say they smelled gas. The apartment on the fifth floor, according to initial checks, was temporarily uninhabited. However, checks on neighboring apartments are still underway.