Italy port fuel tank blast kills two

ROME: Two maintenance workers were killed when a fuel tank exploded in the Tuscan port city of Livorno, rescue services said on Wednesday.

"Explosion in a large tank in a deposit in the coastal area," the national fire fighter service tweeted, along with a photo of a blackened cylindrical metal tank leaning over and with twisted metal components.

"Two workers involved in the blast are deceased. Intervention underway," the service said.

Initial reports about a third worker critically injured appear to be unfounded.

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The explosion took place around 14:00 p.m. local time as the workers were doing maintenance in the industrial section of the port, which was evacuated as a result, ANSA news agency reported.

The tank contained highly flammable gas, according to RAI News 24 public broadcaster.

It is unclear whether it had already been emptied or was being emptied when the blast occurred.