Two of the victims were firefighters Dario Ambiamonte, 40, and Giorgio Grammatico, 38, while the third victim was 75-year-old Giuseppe Longo, a resident of the building.
Two more firemen remain in the intensive care unit of Catania’s Garibaldi Hospital.
One suffered from chest trauma and the other had severe concussion among other injuries.
“The two men are still in a serious condition,” hospital sources said.
Italy’s national fire service commander, Gioacchino Giomi, visited the two men in hospital on Wednesday.
A firefighter who witnessed the explosion described it as “a dramatic scene”, adding that he was surprised there weren’t more deaths or injuries.
Prosecutors have impounded part of the building for investigation.
It is still unknown what sparked the blast, but it is suspected that it was caused by a gas leak.
With ANSA
