Gas explosion leaves one dead, 30 injured in Remedios de Escalada

On Friday, a gas explosion and subsequent fire in Remedios de Escalada, Buenos Aires Province, resulted in one fatality and 30 injuries, including seven who suffered serious injuries. Seven people remain unaccounted for. The incident occurred when a third-party contractor employed by gas provider MetroGAS, named Exaget, was conducting maintenance work.

A tunnel-boring machine allegedly damaged a pipe in the distribution network at 9:44 a.m., more than an hour prior to the explosion. All local residents were evacuated, and nearby businesses and establishments, including a facility for individuals with disabilities, were cleared. The fire was eventually brought under control, though city officials stated they were awaiting a complete shutdown of the gas supply before fully extinguishing the blaze and conducting a thorough damage assessment.

The explosion happened in a bustling commercial area during peak traffic hours. Witnesses reported smelling gas minutes before the blast. Property damage was extensive, with at least 29 vehicles destroyed. The Municipality of Lanús released a statement through the National Gas and Electricity Regulatory Agency (ENReGE), which addressed the alleged causes of the accident and announced they would investigate.

"A tunnel-boring machine reportedly damaged a pipeline in the distribution network, causing a gas leak. Repair work was ongoing when an explosion occurred; the causes are under investigation," the statement read. ENReGE expressed regret over the accident's impact on public services and pledged to conduct the necessary investigations and make the results available to the courts.

A key point of investigation will be the incident's reporting process. The municipality revealed that, upon detecting the issue, MetroGAS personnel first contacted the company's internal hotline instead of activating the city's protocol, which requires reporting all gas leaks to emergency services.