What happened

Methane escaping from a ruptured municipal gas-distribution pipe accumulated beneath the Via Trilussa neighborhood in Ravanusa and ignited, producing an explosion that devastated roughly 10,000 square metres. Nine people were killed, including a woman close to giving birth, and approximately 120 residents from 61 households were displaced. Four buildings collapsed and others were heavily damaged. Later prosecutorial and technical findings traced the leak to structural failure at a defective connection weld installed in 1988. Investigators did not find evidence that later Italgas maintenance caused the failure; proceedings instead focused on technical responsibility for the original pipeline installation and certification.

When cited sources give different casualty, damage or spill figures for this event, they’re reported side by side above rather than merged into one number. See how confidence levels work.