Austria gas explosion: Killer blast hits supplies to Europe – Italy in state of emergency
AT LEAST one person has been killed and 18 injured in a massive explosion at one of Europe's major gas pipelines triggering a state of emergency in Italy and a major fuel crisis across the continent.
The explosion and fire ripped through Austria's main gas pipeline hub killing one person and injured 18 others, emergency services said.
Italy has declared a state of emergency due to a lack of gas supplies as a direct result of the blast at a central hub for natural gas distribution in Europe.
Gas prices in Europe soared on concerns about supply.
According to the Austrian news agency APA, the blast rocked the area around Baumgarten an der March at 8.45am.
The plant is about 25 miles north east of Vienna on the Slovakian border.
EPA
Initial reports on casualties suggested as many as 60 people were injured in the blast and following inferno but police and fire service officials later revised the figure to 18.
The massive explosion and fireball could be seen for miles around and images from the scene show flames leaping high above the gasworks as the site was engulfed by the blaze.
Gas Connect Austria, which operates the Baumgarten site in eastern Austria, said the blaze had been brought under control and police said the cause was believed to have been a technical fault.
EPA
Surrounding areas have been closed off and around 240 emergency services personnel are at the scene.
The plant receives natural gas imports from Russia and Norway and is Austria’s largest with a capacity of 40 billion cubic metres per year.
The hub is important for European gas transit, with natural gas transported to Baumgarten via Slovakia and Germany along several cross-border pipelines.
Gas flows are then delivered throughout Europe via Austria's transmission network.
Gas Connect Austria said its deliveries to Austria's southern and southeastern borders were affected by the blast until further notice.
EPA
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen issued a statement which said: “My thoughts are with the families, the friends and colleagues of the man who died in Marchfeld today.
“My condolences as well as lots of strength for this difficult time of mourning. All the best and a speedy recovery for all those injured.
“A big thank you goes to the emergency services, the fire brigade and the police who were and still are very helpful in this situation.”
Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg.
