Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A gas leak on the R4 in Ghent at km 11.5 caused road closure. Fluvius and the fire brigade secure the site. Bjorn Bryon said repairs are difficult. A 7 cm crack delays traffic.
As GVA News reported, a gas leak halted traffic on the R4 in Ghent on Thursday, Aug 28, 2025. The incident occurred on John F. Kennedy Laan near Desteldonk during roadworks. The road was shut down in both directions for safety reasons.
The fire brigade and grid operator Fluvius were called to the scene to secure the area and bring the gas leak under control. Traffic was diverted to other routes, and drivers were warned to avoid the road. Authorities indicated that the precautionary measures would stay in place until all the repairs to the pipeline had been completed and all danger had been removed.
“The gas leak occurred at kilometre marker 11.5 on the R4 in Ghent,”
Says Matto Langeraert of the Ghent police.
What caused the gas leak on R4 in Ghent at km 11.5?
The leak started during soil testing works. Workers were checking the strength of the ground by pressing a rod into the soil. The rod hit a medium-pressure gas pipe and caused a crack about 7 centimetres long. The fire brigade and Fluvius had to act fast to stop the risk of fire or explosion.
Fluvius is still trying to fix the gas leak on the R4 in Ghent. The company has already tried twice to close the damaged pipe by hand, but both attempts failed. Fire department spokesperson Bjom Bryon said the work is very difficult and could take much longer than expected.
On 30 July 2004, a gas pipeline exploded in Ghislenghien, a village near Ath in Wallonia. The line had been damaged earlier during construction works and later ruptured, leading to a massive blast. The explosion killed 24 people and left more than 120 others injured.
