An explosion on a gas line injured four people at a construction site in Duisburg, at least one of them seriously. The accident happened right next to a gas station, which was not affected, said a spokesman for the fire brigade. A dangerous goods transporter loaded with gas cylinders also caught fire. But it was quickly erased.

Almost 50 firefighters fought against what was initially a house-high jet of flame that came from the underground gas line. The police warned of a large cloud of smoke over the western Duisburg district of Mündelheim, which was moving in the direction of Krefeld. Residents should keep windows and doors closed. The cause of the detonation was unclear, said a police spokeswoman. The four-lane B288, which connects Duisburg and Krefeld, was completely closed. There was temporarily no electricity in the surrounding streets.