The Viareggio LPG accident: Lessons learnt

On June 29th, 2009 the derailment of a freight train carrying 14 LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) tank-cars near Viareggio, in Italy, caused a massive LPG release. A gas cloud formed and ignited triggering a flash-fire that resulted in 31 fatalities and in extended damages to residential buildings around the railway line. The vulnerability of the area impacted by the flash-fire emerged as the main factor in determining the severity of the final consequences. Important lessons learnt from the accident concern the need of specific regulations and the possible implementation of safety devices for tank-cars carrying LPG and other liquefied gases under pressure. Integrated tools for consequence assessment of heavy gas releases in urban areas may contribute to robust decision making for mitigation and emergency planning.

► The Viareggio accident was investigated in detail also by on-site inspections.
► Detailed damage maps of the area affected by the flash-fire were obtained.
► Vulnerability of the impact area was a key-factor for the severity of the disaster.
► Derailment detection devices could have been effective in mitigating the accident.
► Integrated modelling tools may help in a better prevision of accident impact areas.