Desperate search launched as building collapses after horror blast – at least 1 dead

At least one person has died after an explosion rocked a two-storey building in an Italian town. The two storey building collapsed in Porto Sant’Elpidio, a coastal town in the province of Fermo, shortly before 6am local time this morning.

A 55-year-old man who lived with his parents was killed in the explosion. Vigili del Fuoco, Italy’s fire and rescue service, reported that his “lifeless body” was recovered, while his elderly parents were taken to separate hospitals for treatment. Searches are now underway to locate a missing woman whilst a teenager was rescued from the rubble.

Firefighters, using a ladder truck, also evacuated two people living in the building adjacent to the collapsed one.

According to local reports, two families lived in the collapsed building on Via Trentino, the explosion is believed to have occurred in the second-floor apartment.

Horrific images from the scene show the explosion completely destroyed the building and blew out windows in nearby shops and buildings within several hundred metres.

Initial reports suggest the deadly explosion was caused by a gas leak. An adjacent building to the one that exploded is being investigated.

The mayor of Porto Sant’Elpidio, Massimo Ciarpella, is also monitoring the rescue operations.