Gas Pipeline Explosion in Amstetten Leads to Evacuations

Gas Pipeline Explosion in Amstetten Leads to Evacuations

Facebook/Lukas Michlmayr

 

A gas high-pressure pipeline exploded early Thursday morning in Haag, located in the Amstetten district, triggering a loud explosion. As a precautionary measure, two houses were evacuated, according to police spokesperson Raimund Schwaigerlehner. The gas line was shut off immediately, and authorities confirmed there was no further danger. Gas supply to the Haag, St. Valentin, and Ennshafen areas was interrupted, affecting around 3,500 customers and several major clients west of Amstetten. The cause of the explosion remains unknown.

Haag’s mayor, Lukas Michlmayr (ÖVP), reported via Facebook that the explosion occurred in the Paga district. “A strange noise woke us up in the early morning hours,” he said, confirming the pipeline burst. Multiple fire departments were alerted around 6:00 a.m., and the Red Cross responded with a large team of emergency personnel. “There is no danger to life or health,” Michlmayr assured. A local road was closed for safety reasons.

Repairs Underway, Gas Supply to Be Restored Early Morning

Efforts to repair and restore the pipeline were already underway, Michlmayr said. A crisis team was established at the security center. Technicians from EVN subsidiary Netz NÖ, along with emergency responders, were on-site, having located the damaged area and working diligently to resolve the issue.

By Thursday evening, Netz NÖ reported that the damaged section of the pipeline had been exposed, and welding work had commenced. Afterward, X-ray inspections would follow. “Once TÜV approval is granted, the filling process for both sides should begin around 1:00 a.m.,” explained Michael Wiederstein, the operation leader for Netz NÖ. The replacement gas supply was expected to be restored in the early morning hours.

The Amstetten Service Center will assist customers with restarting their systems if needed. “If a gas boiler was disrupted during the outage, customers may need to reset the error button,” Wiederstein added.

No Injuries Reported, Residents Allowed to Return

No injuries were reported, according to Sonja Kellner, spokesperson for the Red Cross in Lower Austria, which initially responded with six vehicles and around 20 helpers. Seven people—four adults and three children—were assisted until they could return to their homes later in the morning.

The West1 gas high-pressure pipeline, built in 1964, stretches approximately 30 kilometers from Schmiedleiten near Oed to the border between Lower Austria and Upper Austria. Since 1995, West1 has been used solely for local supply.

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