'Violent explosion' at gas plant leaves 'one dead and dozens injured' as witnesses say it 'felt like an earthquake'
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A 'violent explosion' has rocked a natural gas depot in Austria with reports of one person dead and dozens injured.
Rescue helicopters are circling the area and 10 fire engines and four ambulances are at the scene of the OMV gas station in Baumgarten, Heute reports.
Witnesses said it 'felt like an earthquake' and saw meter high flames, local reports say.
Police officials have tweeted: "Explosion of a gas station in Baumgarten.
"Avoid the area and follow instructions of the forces."
(Image: AFP)
(Image: AFP)
(Image: WolfgangWeinkum/Twitter)
A fire brigade spokesperson reportedly said the explosion happened in a gas pipeline that runs in the ground.
He said it created a fire and "thick black clouds of smoke," reports say.
The station was reportedly evacuated in the incident this morning and police have blocked off the area.
The exact number of those injured has not been confirmed.
(Image: WolfgangWeinkum/Twitter)
(Image: Sonnenstrom1/Twitter)
(Image: Marcus Pos /Youtube)
A spokesman for OMV told noe.orf : "We now have to find out which parts of the plant are affected.
"The state criminal investigation office has taken up the investigations."
A Gas Connect Austria spokesperson reportedly said the situation is under control but 'extinguishing work' is still in progress, diepresse reports.
Each year about 40 billion m³ of natural gas is redistributed via the Baumgarten station to Austria and to Western, Southern and Southeastern Europe.
Natural gas is needed in Austria for the manufacturing sector, power plants, heating plants, district heating plants, households and transport.