The explosion took place in a house at Beukenlaan 9. That is the area near the Bossuit-Kortrijk canal. The fire brigade of the Fluvia zone reports that a fire has also broken out in the house.
This is an empty social housing. The building was squatted. There was a recent theft of the gas supply pipes, which resulted in it being closed off with a plug. This caused the gas to build up and cause an explosion. A squatter was taken to hospital with minor injuries
Renovations have been going on in the social district for some time now. It is still unclear whether the house was still occupied. Many houses are empty. But sometimes there are reports of squatters. Local residents say a gas explosion was recently thwarted.