Mother and son killed in explosion at Italian fireworks factory with history of fatal accidents
A 30-year-old employee and his 60-year-old mother were killed on Wednesday when an explosion ripped through the Pirotecnica Mattei fireworks factory in Torano di Borgorose, central Italy. Two other workers were injured, and the site has a history of deadly accidents, including a 2023 blast that killed three relatives of the same family.
The explosion
On Wednesday, 8 July 2026, an explosion destroyed the Pirotecnica Mattei fireworks factory in Torano di Borgorose, a town in the province of Rieti, roughly 70 kilometres northeast of Rome. Firefighters searching the rubble recovered two bodies. The local prosecutor later identified the dead as Simone Colle, a 30-year-old employee, and his 60-year-old mother, Teresa Tocci. Two other workers were injured, firefighters told AFP, but no details on their condition were released.
The victims
Simone Colle worked at the factory; his mother was present when the blast occurred. The prosecutor confirmed the identities to the Italian news agency ANSA. The deaths are the latest in a string of tragedies for the Colle family at this site.
A factory with a deadly history
The Pirotecnica Mattei factory has now seen three fatal explosions. In July 2023, a blast killed three people: Franco Colle, Simone’s uncle, and his two children, Anna and Claudio. An earlier explosion in 1983 killed six, including three members of the Mattei family. After the 2023 incident, owners Fabrizio and Gaetano Mattei were convicted of storing explosives in an unlicensed area, employing undeclared workers, and manslaughter. They received four-year prison sentences last year. Despite the convictions, the company later obtained a new license and resumed fireworks production and sales.
- Explosion kills six people, including three family members.
- Explosion kills three: Franco Colle and his children Anna and Claudio.
- Explosion kills Simone Colle and his mother Teresa Tocci; two injured.
Calls for accountability
The CGIL trade union confederation responded by demanding a thorough investigation.
The union’s statement highlights ongoing concerns about safety standards at a facility with a repeated pattern of deadly accidents.It is necessary to shed full light on the causes of the explosion, to quickly determine responsibilities and verify compliance with all health and safety regulations for workers.
