Two workers died after exposure to toxic fumes emanating from a wastewater treatment plant in San Vito Lo Capo, a town in the province of Trapani, Sicily. The victims were Davide Anselmo, a 45-year-old worker employed by a Campanian company contracted by the municipal administration, and Francesco Bulgarella, a 64-year-old emergency medical technician with the regional ambulance service, known as the 118. Both men lost their lives during rescue operations following Anselmo’s collapse inside the facility. Initial investigations suggest that Anselmo was exposed to harmful gases while performing maintenance work on the plant. His condition deteriorated rapidly, prompting emergency services to intervene. During resuscitation efforts, Bulgarella also collapsed and later succumbed to his injuries. The incident occurred amid extreme heat conditions, which added to the risk of heat-related illness among the workers. According to preliminary reports, Anselmo had entered the tank to replace a faulty pump, despite the facility being supposed to contain no sewage at the time. The exact nature of the fumes and whether they directly caused the deaths of both men will be determined through autopsies conducted by the Trapani prosecutor's office. The investigation has been launched under charges of negligent homicide, with authorities already interviewing witnesses and examining the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The wastewater treatment plant, located near the Tonnara del Secco area, has been under scrutiny since June 2016, when the Trapani prosecutor ordered its preventive seizure. This action followed an inquiry into alleged marine water contamination linked to the facility. Installed in 2010, the plant had reportedly never undergone official testing or certification. Despite this, the municipality of San Vito Lo Capo had signed a contract with a private firm to maintain the system. Environmental monitoring agency Arpa had previously documented multiple anomalies in the plant’s operation, raising concerns over its safety and compliance standards. The deaths have sparked outrage among labor unions and political figures in the region. Liria Canzoneri, secretary general of the Trapani branch of the Italian General Confederation of Labor (Cgil), called for a definitive turning point in workplace safety practices across the province. She emphasized that the goal of achieving zero fatalities on the job must become a binding commitment for all institutions, contractors, and businesses operating in the area. Meanwhile, representatives from the Cisl union expressed solidarity with the families of the deceased and highlighted the need for stronger prevention measures, training programs, and stricter oversight of companies awarded public contracts. Fabio Genco, head of the 118 emergency services in Palermo and Trapani, stated that Bulgarella did not enter the premises of the treatment plant and that the paramedics waited for fire department personnel before removing Anselmo from the site. He noted that while the cause of Bulgarella’s death remained uncertain, he personally ruled out the possibility that the fumes from the plant were responsible. Genco described the day as one of profound sorrow for the entire 118 organization. Local officials and community leaders have also voiced their condolences. The mayor of San Vito Lo Capo, Francesco La Sala, visited the scene of the incident and acknowledged the gravity of the situation. He confirmed that the exact sequence of events would be investigated by judicial authorities, emphasizing that such occurrences are unacceptable. Meanwhile, Riccardo Castro, president of the Sicilian Emergency and Urgency Health Service, praised Bulgarella’s dedication and sacrifice, calling him an exemplar of professionalism and selflessness. Authorities are continuing their probe into the incident, focusing on whether the presence of sewage in the tank was unauthorized and whether proper safety protocols were followed. The lack of protective gear worn by both workers raises questions about the adequacy of risk assessments and training procedures. As the investigation unfolds, the focus will remain on determining liability and ensuring that similar tragedies can be prevented in the future.
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