ROME: An explosion at an Italian hydroelectric power plant on Tuesday killed at least four people and left five missing, an official said.
Three people were also injured in the incident at the Bargi plant run by Enel Green Power located on Lake Suviana, the official from the Bologna prefecture in central Italy told AFP.
Fire service images showed smoke rising from the plant on the water’s edge where firefighters searched for the missing following the early afternoon blast.
The mayor of the nearby town of Camugnano, Marco Masinara, called the explosion a “terrible workplace accident” that affected the “entire community.”
“It seems there was a floor slab collapse and rescue is difficult as a lot of water entered inside the eighth basement floor,” he said.
No official cause has yet been determined.
Bologna fire department head, Calogero Turturici, told local television that at least one person was seriously injured.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on social media that she was “following with apprehension the terrible news regarding the explosion.”
Enel Green Power, the renewables unit of energy giant Enel that operates the plant, said it was coordinating with authorities.
In a statement to AFP, it said “a fire affected one of the two groups of the Bargi plant” in the province of Bologna.
“Following investigations, the dam basin of the Bargi plant was not damaged and is safe,” it said.
Production was halted, but there was no impact on local or national supply, it said.
“The company informs that it is continuing to operate in line with all the necessary safety measures as per internal procedures to guarantee the evacuation of its staff.”
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Four dead, five missing in blast at Italy hydroelectric plant
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Four dead, five missing in blast at Italy hydroelectric plant
- Incident at Bargi plant run by Enel Green Power located on Lake Suviana in the Bologna Apennines
- PM Meloni said on social media that she was ‘following with apprehension the terrible news regarding the explosion’
Romanian president to attend Washington ‘Board of Peace’ meeting as observer
Bucharest — ROU
Bucharest, Feb 15, 2026 : Romanian President Nicusor Dan announced on Sunday that he would attend as observer the first meeting of US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace.”
“Next week I will take part in the first meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, responding to the invitation addressed by the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump,” Dan wrote on X, after having recently said that his country was still considering whether to join the body, of which Trump is the chairman.
The board, originally intended to oversee the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip after two years of the Israel-Hamas war, is set to have its first meeting on February 19 in Washington.
Its permanent members must pay $1 billion to join, which lead to criticisms that the board could become a “pay-to-play” version of the UN Security Council.
“Romania will have observer status and I will reaffirm our strong support for international peace efforts and our willingness to participate in the reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip,” Dan added on X on Sunday.
Earlier this week, the Romanian president told reporters that Romania is interested in taking part in the Washington talks as the country “has traditional relations with both Israel and the Arab countries in the region,” adding that “the situation in Gaza is important for Europe.”
Since Trump launched his “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, at least 19 countries have signed its founding charter.
Some countries, including Croatia, France, Italy, New Zealand and Norway, have declined to join, while others like Romania have said they could only consider doing so if its charter were changed.
ani/oaa/sbk
X
Bucharest, Feb 15, 2026 : Romanian President Nicusor Dan announced on Sunday that he would attend as observer the first meeting of US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace.”
“Next week I will take part in the first meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, responding to the invitation addressed by the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump,” Dan wrote on X, after having recently said that his country was still considering whether to join the body, of which Trump is the chairman.
The board, originally intended to oversee the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip after two years of the Israel-Hamas war, is set to have its first meeting on February 19 in Washington.
Its permanent members must pay $1 billion to join, which lead to criticisms that the board could become a “pay-to-play” version of the UN Security Council.
“Romania will have observer status and I will reaffirm our strong support for international peace efforts and our willingness to participate in the reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip,” Dan added on X on Sunday.
Earlier this week, the Romanian president told reporters that Romania is interested in taking part in the Washington talks as the country “has traditional relations with both Israel and the Arab countries in the region,” adding that “the situation in Gaza is important for Europe.”
Since Trump launched his “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, at least 19 countries have signed its founding charter.
Some countries, including Croatia, France, Italy, New Zealand and Norway, have declined to join, while others like Romania have said they could only consider doing so if its charter were changed.
ani/oaa/sbk
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