A Romanian couple was seriously injured in an explosion that occurred in an apartment in Bergamo. Seven other people sustained injuries

A powerful explosion occurred Monday evening in an apartment in Bergamo, Italy, injuring nine people, including a Romanian couple. The blast took place at around 7:30 p.m. on Via Longo, in the Borgo Santa Caterina neighborhood, and authorities suspect it originated in the kitchen of the ground-floor apartment.

The couple was taken in serious condition to hospitals in Milan and Verona. The woman, admitted to Niguarda Hospital, has burns covering more than 90% of her body and is in intensive care. Her husband, who suffered burns over more than half of his body, is being treated at a specialized center in Verona.

Firefighters, medical crews, and police officers took part in the response. Two other injured people were classified under the yellow code, while five were classified under the green code. Approximately 50 residents were evacuated after the building was declared uninhabitable. Some witnesses said they had smelled gas before the explosion.

Investigators found that the gas pipe in the apartment was disconnected and the safety valve was closed. They are examining, among other possibilities, whether work had been carried out on the installation and whether the incident was deliberate. Investigations are continuing.