Four people have died and several are missing following an explosion at a hydroelectric power plant in northern Italy.The blast occurred underwater at the plant on Lake Suviana, 70km (43 miles) from the city of Bologna.
The affected area is located 30m (100ft) below the water level.
The mayor of the nearby town of Camugnano told Ansa news agency a fire was believed to have broken out during maintenance work.
Marco Masinara added that rescuers were having trouble gaining access.
"It's a serious accident. Several employees were inside and others are still there," he told Italian media.
Several people are known to have suffered severe burns following the explosion, which took place at about 15:00 (13:00 GMT).
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on X, formerly Twitter, to thank the rescue services and say she was "anxiously" following news on the explosion.
Calogero Turturici, the commander of the local fire and rescue service, told Italian media that several sections of the plant were full of smoke and others had been flooded.
The power plant is owned by Italian energy giant Enel Green Power.
The company said there was no indication that the dam has suffered any damage, but that the power plant had stopped production.
Lake Suviana is an artificial lake located in the Appennine mountain range near Bologna. The lake was formed following the construction of a dam in 1932.
BBC
