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Austria Now News – Austria
A main gas line was severely damaged during excavation work on Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Straße in Bad Ischl, Upper Austria, on the morning of Tuesday, 3 November, causing a large amount of gas to escape and leading to the evacuation of several buildings in the vicinity.
Evacuation within 100 metres
The fire brigade received the alert at 10:03. Incident commander Hannes Stibl immediately ordered the danger zone to be cordoned off. Using the plans, the relevant shut-off valves were then located and closed, stopping the gas leak.
The situation was delicate because the sewer network in the area is currently being renovated, raising fears that the gas could spread through the channels. Additional fire brigades were therefore called in and the cordon was extended to a radius of 100 metres. Homes, shops, restaurants, a bank, a hotel and the thermal spa were evacuated, and the town’s parish church was also within the danger zone.
No gas spread in the sewer network
Specialists from the gas network operator and the Reinhalteverband Wolfgangsee-Ischl water treatment association checked the sewer network for gas concentrations. The measurements were reassuring, with no spread of gas detected. The damaged line was subsequently repaired.
The extensive cordons caused major traffic disruption in the town. The operation ended at around 11:45. Four fire brigades from Bad Ischl took part, along with the federal police, the municipal security guard, the Red Cross, the gas network operator and other municipal bodies.
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Sources
- Heute – Alarm in Bad Ischl: Häuser, Hotel und Therme evakuiert – 03.11.2026 – heute.at
