During garden work on a private property in Baunatal, Hesse, a gas pipe was damaged, causing a gas leak. Local authorities ordered the temporary evacuation of the directly threatened single-family home and neighboring buildings. Two people required medical assistance at the scene. According to preliminary information, no serious injuries were reported. The rescue operation was conducted by the fire department.
Gas pipeline damaged during work
The gas leak occurred on February 23 around 4:00 PM on a private property in Baunatal in the Kassel district during routine garden work.
Evacuation of residents from nearby houses
The fire department evacuated residents from the house where the failure occurred in its garden, as well as neighboring buildings, to secure the area against explosion risk.
Two people with minor injuries
Two people received medical assistance at the scene. Their health condition is not a serious concern; no severe injuries were reported.
Intervention of rescue services
The securing and threat removal operation was led by the local fire department. Services worked to stop the leak and cut off the gas supply.
A dangerous incident involving gas infrastructure occurred in the German city of Baunatal in the federal state of Hesse. On Thursday, February 23, around 4:00 PM, during routine garden work on a private property, an underground gas pipe was damaged, leading to the release of flammable gas. The incident took place in the city of Baunatal, located in the Kassel district. City authorities, upon receiving the report, immediately dispatched fire department units to the scene. Baunatal, a city with approximately 28,000 inhabitants, was formed in the 1960s from the merger of several villages. Its development is strongly linked to the nearby Volkswagen factory in Kassel. Municipal infrastructure, including gas networks, in many German cities was built in different periods, and its technical condition is subject to regular inspections.Due to the real risk of explosion, the officers commanding the rescue operation ordered an evacuation. This action primarily included the single-family home where the work was being conducted, as well as several neighboring buildings. Residents left their homes temporarily, for the duration of securing the area and removing the threat. Firefighters worked on-site to cut off the gas supply and disperse its concentration in the air. Two people near the leak site required medical intervention. Services provided them with assistance at the scene. According to a statement issued by the Baunatal town hall, the condition of the victims is not serious, and no severe injuries were found. The exact cause of the pipe damage during the earthworks is under investigation. The situation was brought under control by rescue services. After securing the leak site and checking gas concentrations, residents of the evacuated houses were able to return to their homes. This incident highlights the risks associated with earthworks in the immediate vicinity of underground technical infrastructure. In Germany, before starting such work, there is an obligation to notify services responsible for locating cables and pipelines to avoid similar incidents. Meanwhile, Baunatal authorities confirmed that the incident did not cause wider disruptions in gas supplies for other consumers in the city.