« Press Attention | Main | Question of an American soldier to an Iraqi Blogger »

'15 dead' in Belgium gas blast

At least 10 people are reported killed and many others injured in a huge explosion at a gasworks in Belgium.

Ath, where it happened, is in the French speaking part of the country but only 15 km from where I am sitting now.
(Seems to be a huge blast, since one Minister is coming back from the holidays and BBC is mentioning it.)

Update:
Meanwhile 200 people are found to be wounded, from with 100 with severe burning wounds.
14 deaths are counted.
The blast is said to be caused by a leak, which was already discovered this morning and for which the firedepartment was already on the spot to check it. At that moment, it blew up and fire men and security personnel checking it were killed immediately.
The blast was heard 10 km further.

See some pictures here

Update 2:
15 people are dead, among which 5 firemen, more to come. 100 people ended up in different hospitals in the country.
It is said to be the hugest disaster since 40 years.
They announced a national day of grief.
The pictures of the blast are enormous.
The king, Prime Minister, and some other ministers cancelled their holidays and took the first flight home. The Prime Minister arrived in the late afternoon from Italy to consolidate family of the victims.
In general, the organisation of the help was organized in a perfect way.

Posted on July 30, 2004
in Living in Belgium

Digg this | Add to Delicious | Technorati reactions | Permalink | Comments (0)