“A gas explosion has just taken place in Ostend”, reports Mathilde this Thursday at the end of the morning via our orange Alert us button. “30 minutes ago, huge boom in the center of Ostend. Since then, dozens of non-stop sirens across the city”, tells Greg at noon. In the photos they sent us, we can see flames and a partially destroyed house.
A policeman and a firefighter seriously injured
According to the office of mayor Bart Tommelein, a gas explosion did indeed occur around 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of Ooststraat and Christinastraat.
Work is underway there, but the exact circumstances are still unclear. Perhaps the emergency services had already been called following a gas leak that occurred during this work. According to the police, it was in any case a violent gas explosion. The fire department is currently still busy with extinguishing work.
According to preliminary information, three people were injured in the incident, two of them seriously. They are a policeman and a firefighter who were already on the scene when the gas explosion occurred.
The municipal emergency plan has been announced, but according to the mayor, the situation is now under control.
© RTL INFO