Overview
- A fire broke out at a Versalis warehouse in Mantova on Friday morning, producing a dense column of black smoke visible for kilometers and prompting an immediate emergency response.
- Firefighters deployed multiple crews and partially extinguished the blaze while police isolated the industrial area and between 700 and 800 workers were evacuated along with nearby students.
- Local authorities moved three freight tank cars that contained titanium chloride as a safety precaution, suspended service on the Mantova–Monselice rail line and closed nearby roads.
- Municipalities including Mantova and Trevenzuolo issued precautionary orders telling residents to close windows and limit outdoor activity while regional agencies carry out air-quality monitoring.
- No fatalities have been reported and one person suffered mild intoxication; officials say the cause of the fire is still under investigation and health and environmental assessments are ongoing.