2024 Lake Suviana explosion

On 9 April 2024, an explosion at the Bargi hydroelectric power station hydroelectric power plant owned by Enel Green Power left seven workers dead and five others critically injured. The power station is located in Bargi, one of the villages around Lake Suviana lying upstream, in Camugnano near Bologna, Italy.

Background
Lake Suviana is a reservoir that was formed following the construction of a dam in 1932. Due to increased energy demand, the Bargi hydroelectric power station was built in 1975 at a depth of 30 metres. The power plant uses water from both Lake Suviana and Lake Brasimone.

Explosion
The explosion occurred around 15:00 CEST at the hydroelectric power plant of Italian company Enel Green Power in Bargi, one of the five villages around Lake Suviana in the commune of Camugnano.

The power plant is located about 30 m underground. The prefect of Bologna, Attilio Visconti, said the explosion originated from a turbine located eight levels down and resulted in a fire, and the floor below it flooded. Enel Green Power said there was no damage to the dam's structure.

Victims
Fifteen people were working at the plant at the time of the explosion. In the immediate aftermath, three workers were killed, including two from the southern cities of Taranto and Messina and a man from Romania who resided in Settimo Torinese. Five people were critically injured with severe burns; they were transported by helicopter to nearby hospitals. Two people are in intensive care. Four workers were decleared missing. Three other workers escaped unharmed.

On 10 April, aquatic drones were deployed in the lake to search for the missing. The next day, three of the missing were found dead, bringing the death toll to six. The men were from Padua, Milan and Pisa. On the morning of 12 April, the last missing worker, a man from Naples, was found dead, bringing the death toll to seven.

Aftermath
The fire brigade had great difficulty gaining access to the fire. A rescue diver gained access to the seventh floor below the surface, but not lower where three people were trapped.

Employees were evacuated following the explosion and electricity production was halted.

Strikes and protests
The explosion contributed to concerns about work safety in Italy, with two of the country's largest unions renewing calls for planned nationwide four hour-strikes on 10 April. Following the explosion, more strikes and protests took place on 11 April.

Investigation
Authorities said the explosion appeared to have been caused by a defect in one of the turbines. According to Marco Masinara, the mayor of Camugnano, the explosion occurred during maintenance work. An investigation is due to launched after the missing people are found and the plant is deemed safe.

On 10 April, Masinara said the plant was never known to be at risk of such an incident.

More than two years before the explosion, the Italian Labour Union issued warnings about safety risks in the hydroelectric power station. However, Enel Energy denied such reports and said that it had received appreciation from labor unions in 2022 for the company’s approach to training, safety, and risk assessment.

Reactions
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said she was "anxiously" following the news and thanked the rescue workers. Enel Green Power also expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and has established an immediate fund of two million euros to enable the individuals involved and their families to address their immediate needs and emergencies. The company also initiated an internal fundraising campaign to provide employees with the opportunity to express their condolences and solidarity with the families of the victims.

On 10 April the explosion was commemorated by the Italian Chamber of Deputies.