The alarm came just after 8 o'clock on Friday morning and a smoke column rose tens of meters in Prenestino in southeastern Rome.
Around 30 people were injured, announces Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri, nine police officers and around 20 others. Four of the injured are said to have been in nearby homes. The vast majority had, according to the mayor, minor injuries.
A summer camp for children in the vicinity was evacuated, reports AFP, and a roof is said to have been thrown away 300 meters.
Several buildings have been damaged and the subway station Teano in the vicinity has been closed.
All windows shook, I thought of an earthquake, says a witness in nearby Centocelle to the newspaper.
In a video that Rai has published, a fire can be seen at the gas station first and then a powerful explosion. According to witness accounts in social media, a fire broke out first, and then came two explosions close together, writes Corriere della Sera.
The explosions were heard in large parts of the city.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announces on X that she is following the events.
