BELGIUM: A massive natural gas pipeline blast that could be felt six miles away killed at least 15 people and hurled bodies into a field near Brussels yesterday.
Firefighters and police responding to a report of a leak were among the dead and about 200 other people were injured.
The explosion in the industrial park in Ghislenghien, 20 miles south-east of the Belgian capital, happened after construction workers pierced an underground gas distribution line three feet in diameter.
The blast sent enormous orange flames billowing into the sky and shook the ground for miles around. The flames charred cars and wheat fields 500 yards away.
Defence Minister André Flahaut, on a visit to the scene of the blast, said 15 people were known to have died; a Health Ministry spokesman said about 40 of the injured were critically hurt and were taken to hospitals as far away as Paris.
The blast shook the ground like an earthquake, witnesses said. "I had the impression that a plane was going to crash on the house," said Carine Vanus in Ath, six miles away. "When we got out on the street we saw a billow of white smoke and the sound was deafening."
Residents were advised to stay indoors with their windows and doors shut to keep out the heavy smoke that hung over the area, but the Health Ministry said it was not toxic and no evacuation was ordered.
The motorway linking Brussels with Lille was closed.
Belgian army units were called in to help co-ordinate the disaster response, involving dozens of ambulances and six military helicopters to ferry victims to hospitals, including a military hospital burn unit.
France sent 100 medical specialists to help treat victims of the blast and evacuate the injured.
Gas distributor Fluxys said a leak was reported on the pipeline, which runs from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge to France, about 30 minutes before the explosion.
The Prime Minister, Mr Guy Verhofstadt, cut short his Tuscan holiday. He was joined at the scene by King Albert's son, Prince Laurent. The Vatican sent a telegram of condolences, saying the Pope was "joined in prayer to the persons who have been struck by this drama". - (AP)