Explosion in Messina, a building collapses in Pistunina: injuries and missing under the rubble.

A violent explosion caused the partial collapse of a three-story building in Pistunina , in the southern part of Messina. The explosion occurred in the early afternoon of Thursday, July 30, along the area crossed by the State Road 114, causing part of the building to collapse and transforming the area into a huge pile of rubble within moments.

The toll remains provisional and could change as rescue operations continue. Initial reports indicate at least five people were injured , some of whom were transported to Messina University Hospital. One person is reportedly hospitalized in more serious condition. Firefighters are also investigating reports of six people who may be missing and are being searched for among the debris.

The boom and the collapse in the early afternoon

The explosion occurred around 4:00 PM and was clearly felt even from a distance. The force of the blast affected a significant portion of the building, causing the collapse of floors, walls, and internal structures.

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The building housed several apartments and several businesses. On the ground floor, there was a supermarket and another business, while maintenance or renovation work was reportedly underway inside. The presence of workers, customers, employees, and residents makes it particularly difficult to determine how many people were inside at the time of the collapse.

Six people reported missing

The search is focusing on the most damaged areas of the building. According to initial reports received by rescuers, there may be six people whose families and acquaintances have been unable to find news of.

The number has not yet been officially confirmed and is being treated with caution. Checks are being conducted both on residents of the building and on those who may have been in businesses or in the area affected by the work.

Firefighters are cross-referencing reports with residents' testimonies and information gathered from business owners in an attempt to accurately reconstruct who was present at the time of the explosion.

Firefighters among rubble and unsafe structures

A comprehensive rescue operation has been set up on site. Firefighters are operating with specialized USAR teams , trained in urban search and rescue following collapses and explosions.

Dog units, operators of the Alpine River Speleological Unit, and drone pilots are also participating in the operations. Aerial images are being used to identify possible access points and inspect any parts of the building that may still be unstable.

Any movement of debris must be carried out with extreme caution. The presence of suspended ceilings, damaged beams, and unsafe sections of the building could cause further collapse, endangering both those trapped inside and the rescuers themselves.

At least five injured, the Policlinico's plan has been activated

Initial reports indicate at least five people were injured, but this figure is still being confirmed. Some of the injured were transferred to the Messina Polyclinic, where the PEIMAF (Emergency Response Plan) has been activated due to the massive influx of injured.

The health information released in the early hours is still not entirely consistent. At least one person was admitted with a red code, while other patients were classified with different severity codes.

The activation of the hospital plan allows for rapid staffing increases, freeing up beds in wards, and coordinating the reception of a large number of patients should the toll from the explosion worsen.

The hypothesis of a gas cylinder explosion

According to Messina's mayor, Federico Basile , the collapse may have been caused by the explosion of a gas cylinder. However, this is only an initial hypothesis, which will need to be verified through technical and investigative tests.

"According to initial information, the collapse was caused by the explosion of a gas cylinder," said the mayor, who went to Pistunina to follow the rescue efforts.

It has not yet been determined whether the explosion originated from a gas cylinder, a pipe, or a system inside the building. A gas leak, possibly triggered by activities reportedly taking place on the ground floor, is also being considered.

The relationship with the works on the ground floor needs to be clarified.

One of the elements on which the investigations will focus concerns the maintenance or renovation work that was carried out in the rooms located on the ground floor.

Investigators will need to verify the nature of the work, the companies involved, the permits, the condition of the systems, and the presence of any gas cylinders or pipes. They will also need to determine whether the work affected walls, pillars, or other structural parts of the building.

The presence of the construction site alone does not allow a connection to be established with the collapse. Technical investigations, along with the expert opinions ordered by the judiciary, will clarify whether ongoing activities played a role in the tragedy or whether the explosion occurred due to independent causes.

The customer's testimony after leaving the shop

A woman in her 40s said she had left one of the shops on the ground floor moments before the collapse. Her testimony conveys the violence of the explosion and the chaos that ensued in the area immediately after the explosion.

"I was walking away after buying what I needed when I heard a huge bang and everything collapsed. There was chaos around me. I walked away, but I'm still shocked," the witness said.

His account could help reconstruct the sequence of events and determine how many people were in the shops. Investigators will also be able to gather testimonies from other survivors, residents, and those who were along the street at the time of the explosion.

The mayor activates the Municipal Operations Center

Mayor Federico Basile ordered the immediate activation of the Municipal Operations Center , with the aim of coordinating assistance activities, making municipal resources available and providing support to those affected.

"My first thoughts are with those involved and their families, who are experiencing moments of great fear and apprehension at this time," Basile said. "Firefighters, law enforcement, municipal police, and emergency services have already arrived, engaged in rescue operations and securing the area."

The Municipal Operations Center will coordinate the efforts of the Civil Protection, the Municipal Police, and other municipal services, also ensuring assistance to those unable to return to their homes.

The Municipality's social services have also been activated

The municipal administration has activated social services to assist families affected by the emergency. Temporary accommodations may be found for evacuated residents and psychological support may be provided for those affected.

"We are in constant contact with all the authorities involved in the emergency," the mayor explained. "The activation of the Municipal Operations Center and social services will ensure every form of support and assistance to those affected, making all necessary municipal resources available."

The entire area has been cordoned off to allow emergency vehicles to operate and prevent residents from approaching the damaged structures. Traffic along the affected stretch may be slowed and diverted until the most urgent operations are completed.

The Prosecutor's Office will open an investigation into the collapse

A representative from the Messina Public Prosecutor's Office inspected the area of ​​the explosion. An investigation will be opened to determine the cause of the explosion, assess the condition of the building, and identify any culprits.

In the coming hours, the seizure of the building and surrounding area could be ordered, along with the acquisition of documentation relating to the work and a series of technical consultations. The assessments will concern the gas and electricity systems, any gas cylinders present, and the overall stability of the structure.

Investigators will have to reconstruct the exact point from which the explosion originated and establish whether all safety, plant maintenance, and work management regulations were respected.

Checks on camera images

An important contribution could come from video surveillance footage from nearby businesses and structures. The footage could show the seconds immediately preceding the explosion, people entering and exiting, and any smoke or flames developing.

The cameras could also be used to determine the actual number of people present in the building, an essential piece of information for directing firefighters' searches.

At the same time, testimonies from those who reported smelling gas, hearing unusual noises, or other signs before the explosion will be examined. Any evidence could be helpful in clarifying whether the explosion was sudden or preceded by perceptible anomalies.

A race against time to find the missing

The top priority remains the search for people who may be trapped. Teams are also using microcameras, listening devices, and canine units trained to detect human presence under the rubble.

In such situations, every noise is analyzed and every report is verified before proceeding with debris removal. Operations may continue throughout the night, with the installation of light towers and rotation of teams.

In Pistunina, family members, residents, and business owners await news while rescue workers work tirelessly. Only after the investigations are completed will it be possible to determine the full extent of the explosion and understand the true extent of what happened.

A neighborhood suspended between fear and hope

The explosion profoundly shook the southern part of Messina. Numerous residents took to the streets after hearing the blast, and a crowd gathered at a safe distance from the perimeter set up by law enforcement.

Fear for those still missing is coupled with hope that they can be found alive. Operations will continue until every report has been verified and all accessible areas of the building have been inspected.

The toll remains evolving. Authorities urge people not to share unconfirmed information, while their focus remains on the firefighters' work, assisting the injured, and supporting the families affected.