BARCELONA, Spain — Eight people, all construction workers, were injured, two of them seriously, following a major gas explosion at the under-construction L5 metro station in Plaça de Sants on Wednesday night. The incident triggered a massive emergency response that lasted over twelve hours as firefighters worked to contain a sustained blaze fueled by a ruptured urban gas line.
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The sequence of events began in the early afternoon when emergency services received the first report of a gas leak at the site, where accessibility upgrades were actively underway. Authorities confirmed the leak and monitored the area, noting that gas concentrations in the surrounding environment, including nearby businesses and residential entrances, remained very low. Consequently, mass evacuations were deemed unnecessary, though a local school was temporarily closed as a precaution due to slightly elevated readings.
Later that evening, at approximately 10:10 p.m., a sudden deflagration occurred at the site, resulting in a spectacular column of fire. Eight male workers were injured in the blast and were promptly attended to by the Medical Emergency System (SEM). They were transported to the Vall d’Hebron and Clínic hospitals in Barcelona, with two in serious condition, three in less serious condition, and three with minor injuries. By the following morning, Barcelona’s Deputy Mayor for Security, Albert Batlle, confirmed that all victims were evolving favorably and that no further personal damages had been reported.
Barcelona firefighters faced a highly complex operational challenge in extinguishing the blaze. Because the urban gas distribution network is intertwined rather than linear, crews could not simply shut off a single valve. Instead, intervention chiefs directed a coordinated effort to simultaneously block four distinct points in the pipeline using specialized balloons to cut off the fuel supply. Officials also noted a deliberate strategic decision to allow the fire to burn in a controlled manner rather than attempting direct extinguishment, as doing so prematurely would have presented a significantly higher risk of a catastrophic gas buildup. Once the gas flow was successfully halted, the flame self-extinguished.
Una explosión de gas deja ocho heridos y un incendio en las obras de la estación de metro de Sants en Barcelona https://t.co/2o92tJH8a5 pic.twitter.com/eIjACD8x9U
— RTVE Noticias (@rtvenoticias) July 23, 2026
Regional authorities have outlined that the event comprises two distinct incidents. The initial perforation of the gas pipe is considered a known risk in construction environments; in this case, the established safety protocol was activated, and the gas utility company, Nedgia, was immediately notified to take charge of the situation. However, the subsequent deflagration is being treated as the exclusive responsibility of the gas company, as their personnel were actively conducting the repair operations at the time of the explosion. The City Council has announced it will thoroughly analyze the actions of both the construction contractor and the utility provider.
As of Thursday morning, emergency crews remained on site utilizing heavy-tonnage cranes to dismantle and extract the burnt drilling machinery. The extraction process is proving complicated due to the severe damage sustained by the equipment, requiring it to be cut into smaller pieces for safe removal. Local officials anticipate that traffic on Passeig de Sant Antoni will fully reopen and normalcy will be restored to the neighborhood once the debris is cleared.
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The impact on the local community has been described as minimal. Gas service was only suspended in two residential blocks on the promenade, and this restriction will remain in place only until the damaged machinery is fully removed. Mayor Jaume Collboni visited the scene overnight to assess the situation firsthand, and authorities have maintained continuous communication with affected residents.
