New Belgian gas leak

5 August 2004

BRUSSELS – Another major gas leak has had to be stemmed in Belgium, it was reported on Thursday.

Police and fire fighters were scrambled to Heist-op-den-Berg in Antwerp province on Wednesday afternoon.

They sealed off the area and told nearby residents to turn off their electricity.

Those in the cordoned zone were evacuated while the rest of the neighbourhood was advised to stay inside.

Fire fighters created a wall of water around the gas leak while the gas company sealed off the leak before replacing the damaged pipe.

Last Friday 18 people died and scores were injured when a high pressure gas pipeline exploded in southern Belgium.

Subject: Belgian news