Belgian Gas Blast Kills 14

30/07/2004| IslamWeb

At least 14 people have been killed and about 100 others injured in a gas explosion in southern Belgium, the health ministry has said. An interior ministry spokeswoman, Berangere Dubois, said "a high-pressure gas distribution pipeline blew up" early on Friday morning at the Ghislenghien business park, near the town of Ath, which lies close to a major highway. Firemen and policemen were among the injured, she said. Earlier reports by Belga news agency, quoting emergency services, said the explosion occurred around 9:00 am (0700 GMT) at a gasworks which was under construction. Belgian broadcaster RTBF reported that flames several metres high were shooting from the site and that thick smoke billowed over the scene. The state-run RTBF radio station said around 60 of the injured, many with massive burns, were taken to an improvised holding centre before being ferried to specialist hospitals by helicopter. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Firefighters and rescue team discuss near the wreckage of a vehicle near the site of a gas explosion at an industrial estate in Ghiselenghein, southern Belgium. (AFP)