An explosion at the Eni depot in Calenzano, near Florence, has led to a major investigation by the Prato prosecutor's office.

The blast occurred during a long-overdue maintenance operation on the loading bay facilities, which had been neglected for years.

The depot is now under seizure as authorities work to determine the cause of the explosion, which has been ruled out as sabotage.

An operator had reported an anomaly moments before the explosion, allowing him to escape unharmed.

The incident has resulted in multiple fatalities, prompting the prosecutor to open a case for multiple manslaughter and other charges.

The depot's operations, including fuel supply and storage, are halted until further notice.