As of: February 29, 2024, 3:12 p.m
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A residential building was destroyed by a gas explosion (left).
© Thomas Frey/dpa
The complicated operation following the gas leak accident in Hadamar continues.
New measurements this morning showed a high risk of explosion around the tank.
For the residents it's still a matter of waiting.
Hadamar - The operation around a gas tank in Hadamar, which has been ongoing since Monday, is increasingly becoming a test of patience for the residents.
Because recent measurements revealed a highly explosive gas concentration around the propane gas tank, the completely icy tank must be further checked, said a city spokeswoman for the German Press Agency.
The measurements in the houses could therefore not have started until midday, so those affected who live in the vicinity of the tank would have to be prepared for not being able to spend the night on Friday at home.
The situation remains dynamic, said the spokeswoman.
It is unclear whether the measured gas escaped from possible damage to the tank or accumulated in the ice layer.
The emergency services continued to work on de-icing the tank using a special concentrate.
The pivotal point of the work is to get this tank sealed, said the spokeswoman.
But an explosive gas concentration was also measured at one point in the sewer system.
Only when both have been eliminated can the measurements begin in the houses of the affected residents of the Niederzeuzheim district.
However, the measurements and the ventilation of the houses are complex and will probably take some time.
Realistically, this is unlikely to be achieved during the course of Thursday due to the delays.
A police spokesman spoke of a Sisyphean task that the fire department had to cope with.
He admitted that the situation was unpleasant for the population, but that it was important to ensure that the risk of explosion was averted.
Regarding the question of how long the operation would last, the spokesman explained that the past few days had shown that no precise forecast could be made - everyone was giving their all, especially the many volunteers, some of whom came to Hadamar from other districts to support be.
The leak in the gas tank was reported on Monday morning and was probably caused by maintenance and repair work.
People in an initial radius of around 300 meters around the tank had to leave their homes because of the risk of explosion.
The safety radius was later expanded to 400 meters after a man was seriously injured in an explosion and the collapse of a house.
The house, of which only a pile of rubble remained, according to the fire brigade, was around 120 meters away from the tank.
According to police, the man returned there contrary to the instructions of the security forces.
He was seriously but not life-threateningly injured.
A good 200 houses with around 740 residents in Niederzeuzheim are now affected by the closure.
During attempts to de-ice the gas outlet on the tank, the emergency services sprayed it with hot water and worked on it with a wooden hammer and other tools.
It is unclear whether the tank may have broken, the spokeswoman explained.
In addition, not all those affected who live within the security radius had handed in their keys in the morning.
Accompanied by police officers, emergency services want to go into houses to measure whether there is gas, especially in cellars, sewers and other low-lying places.
Propane is heavier than air and can therefore accumulate in such places and become a risk of explosion.
Most of those affected were staying with relatives or friends, had to come to Hadamar to hand over the keys and combined this with going to work, the spokeswoman explained.
It is also already foreseeable that some houses will have to be opened because residents are on vacation or the houses are empty.
Some of those affected also took up residence at a campsite in the neighboring district of Oberzeuzheim, where they ensured an unusually early start to the season.
After it rained, the meadow on the site was still wet, so people could have parked caravans and mobile homes in a parking lot, said site operator Angela Güth.
dpa