Kitchen Gas Line Explodes In Namur, Levels Duplex Unit, Kills Resident Inside Home

Namur, Belgium— A gas line blew up inside a kitchen in a residential duplex early on October 24, 2026, killing one person and ripping the building apart at the seams.

Fire crews found the structure collapsed inward. Walls had buckled. Windows were gone. The blast had thrown debris across the street and into neighboring yards. Police cordoned off two blocks while gas technicians shut down the main.

The victim was inside the unit where the leak originated. Officials said the resident died at the scene. The identity has not been released pending notification of family. The second unit was empty at the time. That detail kept the death toll from rising.

Neighbors said they smelled gas before the explosion. One called emergency services about ten minutes prior. "It was strong, like rotten eggs, right in the hallway," a resident on the floor above told responders. Investigators are checking whether the call was logged and how fast the utility dispatched.

Fluxys and the local distribution operator confirmed crews were on site. They isolated the line serving the street and began pressure testing the remaining network. A spokesman said, "We cut supply to twelve connections as a precaution. We will not restore service until each line is cleared."

The prosecutor's office in Namur opened a routine inquiry. A fire investigation expert and a gas forensics specialist were ordered to examine the kitchen appliances, connectors, and shutoff valves. Photos show the stove dislodged and the flexible hose charred.

The building is now tagged uninhabitable. City housing inspectors said the shared wall between the two units failed and the roof joists shifted. An engineer will decide whether any part can be salvaged. Until then, six people from adjacent homes cannot return.

The mayor's office arranged temporary shelter in a municipal gym. Utility vouchers and emergency funds were offered. One official said the priority was to keep displaced families close while inspections continue through the weekend.

The duplex was built in the 1970s and had its last recorded gas compliance check in 2019, according to city records. Regulators will review whether that schedule met current rules. The line will stay sealed until lab results come back.