European gas supplies hit by deadly blaze

Firefighters put a fire out at Austria’s main gas pipeline hub at Baumgarten. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich, Francois Murphy, Nina Chestney

An explosion and fire that ripped through Austria's main gas pipeline hub killed one person and injured at least 18 others, prompting Italy to declare a state of emergency as flows from the strategic site were cut off.

The Baumgarten site in eastern Austria, near Slovakia, is a major regional transfer node, taking natural gas from as far away as Russia and pumping it towards neighbours including Germany and Italy, its biggest recipient. News of yesterday's blast sent gas prices in Europe soaring on fears it would restrict supply as winter sets in.