A gas leak caused a large flame at the Plaça de Sants metro station, leaving eight injured, two of them seriously. The incident occurred during accessibility works being carried out at the station.
A gas explosion at the Plaça de Sants metro station in Barcelona has resulted in eight injuries on Wednesday night. The incident occurred around ten o'clock at night when a gas leak ignited a large flame in the construction area aimed at improving accessibility at the station.
According to municipal sources, all the injured are men. Two of them are in serious condition, three are moderately injured, and three have minor injuries. All have been taken to Vall d'Hebron and Clínic hospitals in Barcelona for treatment.
Nine fire units from Bombers de Barcelona and eight ambulances from the Sistema d'Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) were dispatched to the scene. The firefighters managed to control the incident quickly and proceeded to assist those affected. Protecció Civil activated the Procicat emergency plan.
Initial hypotheses suggest that the gas leak may have originated from a pipe. The City Council of Barcelona has indicated that the leak may have occurred earlier in the afternoon, although it has not yet confirmed a direct link between the incident and the ongoing works at the station.
Since July 17 and until August 28, the Plaça de Sants station has been undergoing works aimed at adapting the station for people with reduced mobility and renewing the tracks of Line 1. The work includes replacing the gravel ballast with a concrete base, which aims to improve service reliability and reduce vibrations.
As a result of the works, the section of Line 1 between Florida and Plaça de Sants remains closed. An alternative bus service has been established, along with special transport for people with reduced mobility from Hostafrancs. It is also recommended to use alternatives such as the FGC between Av. Carrilet and Espanya or the Rodalies lines between L’Hospitalet and Barcelona-Sants.
Local residents have expressed their concern over the incident. The explosion has caused alarm among residents, who witnessed a large flame rising from the station. Authorities continue to investigate the exact causes of the incident.
This incident occurs in the context of intense construction activity on the Barcelona metro network, with several stations affected by improvement works during the summer. The City Council has assured that safety protocols will be reviewed to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
For the moment, metro service on Line 1 remains closed in the mentioned section, and it is expected that the works will continue as planned. The injured are reportedly recovering well, according to hospital sources.
You may also like
