A roar so loud it seemed like an earthquake. An explosion so powerful that it caused a warehouse to collapse. Yesterday's blast at Toyota in Bologna, likely triggered by a heat exchanger, not only resulted in two deaths and about ten injuries but also reopened (once again) the issue of workplace safety. And not only that. Because tonight the company decided to suspend activities, informing worker representatives of the plant's closure and the start of furloughs. The explosion, what happened An explosion, probably triggered by a heat exchanger, caused part of a warehouse to collapse and resulted in two deaths, one serious injury, and about ten others in less serious conditions: it happened late yesterday afternoon in Bologna, a city still dealing with the damage from the recent floods. The explosion occurred at Toyota Material Handling around 5:20 PM. The company, located in the Borgo Panigale area on the city's outskirts, is one of the most important in Bologna's mechanical district, producing forklifts and employing about 850 people. According to initial investigations, a 'heat exchanger,' a large device apparently used to regulate temperature and connected to the air conditioning and heating system, exploded in the Toyota Material Handling plant. It was used to balance the temperature so it wouldn't become too hot or too cold. The explosion created a 'bomb' effect, and the shock wave knocked down walls and windows, but not the roof. Further investigations are underway to understand how the device worked and what might have caused it to explode. Investigations by the police, firefighters, and health authorities, coordinated by the Bologna Prosecutor's Office, are ongoing. Two dead and eleven injured What happened will need to be reviewed and investigated further: the certain thing is that the explosion caused part of the warehouse to collapse. One worker died immediately, another after being transported to the Maggiore Hospital. The toll of injuries is also heavy: one is hospitalized in serious condition, while ten others were assisted between the Maggiore and other hospitals in the province, but their conditions are not particularly worrying. Emergency services by firefighters, police, and medical personnel were immediately activated. The first goal is to ensure no other workers are under the rubble: a hypothesis that currently seems excluded, although searches among the debris continue. After the explosion, which was distinctly felt in much of the city, workers and family members gathered in front of the plant gates, anxious for their colleagues' fate. The local health authority also sent a psychologist to the accident site to assist the victims' families and workers who experienced the incident firsthand. Bologna's mayor, Matteo Lepore, was also on-site: 'This is yet another workplace massacre,' he said. Just six months ago, the Bologna area suffered another serious workplace accident, the massacre of seven technicians working on a test at the Suviana hydroelectric plant. The victims The workers who died yesterday were 37 and 34 years old. Their names were Lorenzo Cubello and Fabio Tosi. One died instantly, and the other passed away during transportation to the hospital, where he arrived in critical condition. Both were born in Bologna and died due to the explosion in the logistics department of Toyota Material Handling, a multinational located near Bologna. Besides Tosi and Cubello, there are reportedly 11 injured, two seriously. Lorenzo leaves behind a partner expecting a child who will be born without a father. A colleague said, speaking to journalists outside the Bargellino factory, 'I am incredulous - I didn't think something like this could happen at the workplace, even though we know there are many deaths. One can get hurt, but not returning home in the evening is a whole other thing. There are many checks conducted, some things can be improved. No workplace is immune to risks,' he added. Workplace safety The issue of workplace safety has long been a focus even at the company where the incident occurred: union delegates had called for a two-hour strike at the end of the shift today, precisely to demand more attention to this issue. 'This,' says Gian Pietro Montanari of Fiom-Cgil, 'is not the worst company in the world, but it is necessary to ascertain whether there was maintenance or not. Strikes had also occurred in the past, the last one for some new tools on which workers requested testing. In the past, there was also a fire in the painting department.' The plant closure and furlough Toyota Material Handling, during a meeting in the afternoon, informed worker representatives of the closure of the Bologna plant, in the Bargellino area, affected yesterday by an explosion, and that all work activities, both in-person and remote (none excluded) are suspended until further notice. Ordinary furlough will be opened starting October 23, the duration of which is unknown. The furlough, explains the Fiom union, will not affect the Crespellano site, which will continue its activities. 'As a union representation, we reminded to activate the social safety net also for temporary workers and requested the stabilization of the two temporary contracts expiring on October 31 (all others expire on November 30 and the 100% integration at the company's expense of the furlough treatment,' it continues. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 29. Fim-Cisl, among other things, requested psychological support for the resumption of work activities, given the trauma experienced by the workers. 'On our part,' writes Usb, 'we reiterated the call for a strike for the entire day tomorrow of the industry workers in the provincial territory and a package of hours in the rest of the regional territory.' Usb 'emphasized the need to go all the way to identify the causes and responsibilities of the massacre.'