Gas Leak at Hemiksem Station Disrupts Traffic and Train Services
A gas leak caused by excavation works at Hemiksem station in the Antwerp province of Belgium prompted an emergency response on Monday morning, leading to street closures and disruptions to train traffic. No injuries or evacuations were reported.
Emergency services received the call around mid-morning after a medium-pressure gas line was damaged during excavation works at Statieplaats, the station square. The fire department, police, and Fluvius — the Flemish network operator for gas and electricity — all responded to the scene.
Response and Safety Measures
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, authorities established a safety perimeter cordoning off a limited area between Statieplaats, Statiestraat, and Saunierlei. While the affected streets were closed to traffic, vehicles could detour via surrounding roads. No evacuation order was issued.
“During works in the area, a medium-pressure line was damaged. That’s an important gas line,” said Eef De Vos, spokesperson for Fluvius. “In such a situation, we immediately come to the scene with several teams.”
Fluvius teams worked to reduce gas pressure by manipulating valves in the area in a controlled manner. “We are working hard to make the situation safe as quickly as possible,” De Vos added.
Traffic and Train Disruption
Sofie van Baal, spokesperson for Politiezone Rivierenland, confirmed that a limited area had been cordoned off and that traffic could detour via surrounding streets. The proximity of the gas leak to the railway station also caused disruptions to train services at Hemiksem station, though the exact extent of delays or cancellations was not specified.
Nathalie Verleye, spokesperson for Brandweer Zone Rivierenland, confirmed that emergency services remained on-site conducting the intervention. The duration of the work and when the area would be reopened was not yet clear at the time of reporting.
Broader Context
This incident marks the second gas leak in Hemiksem within approximately 14 months. A similar event occurred in April 2025 when a gas pipeline was damaged during fiber optic cable installation work in the Bredestraat, as reported by Radio Reflex. In both cases, no injuries or evacuations were reported, and Fluvius ultimately brought the situation under control.
The recurrence raises questions about coordination between utility companies and contractors performing excavation work in the area, particularly as ongoing utility works by Fluvius were already underway on Statieplaats.
Looking Ahead
As of Monday morning, emergency services were still on-site working to secure the gas leak. Authorities had not yet provided an estimated time for when the streets would reopen or train services would fully resume. Further updates are expected as Fluvius completes its pressure reduction work and repairs the damaged line.