Italian authorities have advised people near a U.S. Navy base and housing area to limit outdoor activity due to an explosion and chemical leak from an industrial business. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
NAPLES, Italy — Air quality tests following an explosion and chemical leak at an industrial business near a U.S. Navy base were negative for dangerous levels of toxins, allowing people to safely go outdoors, service officials said.
The multiple tests conducted by Italian authorities throughout Saturday “returned negative results,” Naval Support Activity Naples said in a text message the same day sent to the military community using an alert system. “As a result of the air sampling, normal activities can resume with no further action needed.”
On Friday, Italian officials had advised people in the area to take precautionary measures to protect their health and minimize exposure to potential air pollutants. Those actions included limiting outdoor activities, wearing masks and cleaning external surfaces, the base said.
The advisory was scheduled to last through 7 p.m. Saturday and included families living at or near NSA Naples Support Site, which is about 15 miles southwest of where large amounts of ammonia were released.
Earlier on Saturday, base officials said the leak had been contained but the health advisory would remain in effect until the evening.
The ammonia leak occurred at about 4 p.m. Friday during maintenance work on a tank at a company offering cold storage for perishable products, according to the Ansa news agency.
Three workers were able to escape but a fourth, a 19-year-old man from Naples, was killed. It was the second fatal accident at the business in less than two weeks, Ansa said.
Three firefighting teams responded to the chemical leak and nearby homes and businesses were evacuated, Ansa reported.
Anhydrous ammonia can be corrosive to the skin, eyes and lungs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Depending on the circumstances, a leak can cause an explosion, the EPA said.
Anhydrous ammonia is used in agriculture, refrigeration and manufacturing, among other applications.
Earlier, Italian authorities also advised residents to keep their windows and doors shut, and to close forced air ventilation systems. It wasn’t clear Saturday if those precautions were still needed.
NSA Naples Support Site is near the town of Gricignano di Aversa, about 14 miles north of the base’s Capodichino site at Naples airport.
The base’s housing, schools, lodging, recreational facilities, commissary and other facilities are on Support Site. It is surrounded by a mix of industrial complexes, farmland and housing.
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Publish date : 2025-01-11 03:16:00
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