Leipzig highway explosion. News. Terrible accident on the A38 as gas cylinders exploded. The incident happened late Thursday night, near the Rippachtal exit. A truck carrying gas cylinders crashed into vehicles at the end of a traffic jam, causing a massive explosion and fire. Flames and smoke could be seen from kilometers away. Because of the explosion and the complex rescue operation, the A38 motorway towards Göttingen will be closed for several days. Traffic heading towards Leipzig is expected to resume on Friday.
Germany: Horrific Accident on A38 as Truck Carrying Gas Cylinders Explodes
According to the police, the crash damaged gas cylinders, leading to a series of explosions. The blasts were so powerful they were felt and seen from several kilometres away. Both vehicles caught fire right away. Firefighters from Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt struggled to control the blaze using tankers with special water cannons. The fire has now been put out. Several people sustained serious injuries, but there is no detailed information on their conditions yet.
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Motorway closure near Leipzig
Due to the explosion and the complex rescue operation, the A38 motorway towards Göttingen will be closed for at least two days, according to mz.de. A police spokesman also mentioned the need to inspect the Saale Bridge, which might have been damaged in the explosion. Traffic towards Leipzig is expected to reopen by noon on Friday.
The accident happened at the end of a traffic jam caused by an earlier incident on the A38. On Thursday evening, a truck collided with a man whose car had broken down. The man had exited his vehicle on the emergency lane, was struck, and died at the scene.