Explosions in Milan as cars engulfed by fire

Police say fire spread after explosion involving a van carrying oxygen tanks

Several vehicles went up in flames in central Milan on Thursday as a van transporting oxygen tanks exploded in the heart of the Italian city.

At least one person has been reported injured in the incident due to inhalation of smoke from the explosion.

Local police said the van and other vehicles had caught fire, forcing evacuation of a nursery and residential apartment buildings in the neighbourhood.

Witnesses present at the spot reported a loud explosion at around 11.45am at local time, while dramatic footage aired by SkyTG24 from Milan’s Porta Romana neighborhood, showing high plumes of black smoke and firefighters on the scene.

Firefighters were responding to the flames, which spread to other vehicles parked in the bylane and burnt the facade of one of the buildings, reported the LaPresse news agency.

The origins of the fire are still being investigated, but Milan’s mayor Giuseppe Sala told reporters at the scene that police were ruling out terrorism or criminal action being involved.

The explosion has not caused any deaths and the situation is under control, Mr Sala said.

It was unclear whether the fire originated from the van carrying oxygen canisters or in one of the nearby parked cars that also caught fire, firefighters said.