Geel (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Turnhout court, a gas fitter got an 8-month suspended sentence and €800 fine for a faulty gas cylinder installation in Geel (2023) that killed an 85-year-old woman. The family gets €34,395 in damages.
As HLN News reported, a gas worker was in court in Turnhout on June 16, 2025, due to an explosion in Geel in 2023. This explosion killed an 85-year-old woman. The public prosecutor asked for an 8-month suspended prison sentence for the gas worker, as they were very careless, although it was said that the gas worker did not intend to hurt anyone.
The gas worker claimed he was not guilty and requested to be found innocent, arguing he was a longstanding employee in the gas industry and that the act was not intentional. The court found him guilty as charged, and the outcome was an 8-month suspended prison sentence, an 800 euro fine, and the defendant was ordered to pay the victim’s family 34,395 euros.
What caused the deadly Geel blast after the gas cylinder change?
The explosion happened soon after a gas worker changed a gas cylinder at her house. The woman’s family argued it was the fault of the gas worker, and the police and fire investigators agreed. The court determined that the explosion resulted from the gas cylinder not being fitted following the proper protocol. The explosion destroyed the house.
The prosecutors said the gas worker didn’t seal or check the gas cylinder properly. 30 minutes later, the woman smelled gas and called for help. But before help could arrive, the house exploded, killing her and destroying the house.
“My entire house is on fire and I can’t get out,”
85 year 85-year-old woman said during the emergency call.
