Italian authorities have confirmed that three people were killed in an explosion and a subsequent fire on an offshore support vessel (OSV) berthed at the Port of Crotone on the country's southern coast on Wednesday, August 31.
The incident occurred at around 17:00 local time on Wednesday, by which time the OSV, identified by the name Asso, had been berthed at the port for a number of days.
Responding firefighters and rescue personnel arrived at the port shortly afterwards to render assistance. The resulting blaze was extinguished within two hours.
Following completion of the firefighting effort, rescuers searched the surrounding area and found the bodies of three people who have been identified as crewmembers from the OSV. Two of the bodies were found on a nearby dock while the third was pulled out of the harbour's waters.
Authorities said the two deceased crewmembers who were found on the dock may have been thrown off the vessel due to the force of the blast.
A fourth crewmember suffered injuries from the same incident and was later brought to hospital.
A welding machine that was found on board the OSV has been confiscated, as investigators believe the explosion may have occurred as welding works were ongoing.