This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Prosecutors in Rome are investigating a bus explosion in the city’s historic centre, the 10th such blast in the Italian capital this year.

Passengers and pedestrians were lucky to escape injury on Tuesday when the vehicle burst into flames on Via del Tritone, a busy high street close to the Spanish Steps and Trevi fountain.

The explosion was reportedly caused by a short circuit, although panicked tourists initially suspected terrorism. Two shops were damaged by the blast.



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Firefighters work at the scene of the blast. Photograph: Ettore Ferrari/EPA

“There was a loud roar and everyone started to flee like crazy when they didn’t understand what was happening,” reported Il Messaggero, whose head office is on Via Tritone. “We thought it was a bomb,” Japanese tourists told the newspaper.

The explosions are so frequent in Rome that residents have suggested public transport poses a greater threat to their safety than terrorism. There were 22 bus blasts last year and 14 in 2016, with no reported injuries.

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The explosions have piled further pressure on the city’s beleaguered authorities. Atac, the local transport company, is beset by mismanagement, lack of investment and corruption scandals. It has been criticised for its poorly maintained and ageing fleet: 36% of its buses are not in use because they are awaiting repairs.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The remains of the bus in Via del Titone. Photograph: Steve Bisgrove/Re/xShutterstock

The interior minister, Marco Minniti, visited the scene of the blast with Linda Meleo, the city councillor in charge of transport. Meleo said 200 new buses had been put in circulation since the Virginia Raggi, of the Five Star Movement, was elected mayor in June 2016.

Raggi has admitted, however, that a large proportion of the fleet is “too old”.

“Investigations are under way to establish the cause. The real point is that the Atac fleet is extremely old. The bus that went up in flames was 15 years old,” she said.