On the evening of Tuesday, July 21, 2026, residents of Košice smelled a strong gas odor in the city. The incident happened on Berlínska street in the Sídlisko Ťahanovce area, where earthworks are currently taking place. Rescuers immediately went to the scene. This was confirmed by the Fire and Rescue Corps of the Košice region (Hasičský a záchranný zbor).
Why this is not an isolated case
Gas leaks due to construction work in Košice happen regularly, and the consequences can be very serious. The most notable example occurred on August 14, 2024: a gas pipeline was damaged during work at the intersection of Watsonova and B. Němcovej streets. At that time, 342 people were evacuated from nearby buildings.
The Ťahanovce area itself is also on this list. Near the local school, gas leaked several times in a row, and the pipeline there will finally undergo a complete replacement. The most common reasons for such accidents are excavators damaging pipes during construction, as well as the aging of materials and soil pressure.
What to do if you smell gas
In such situations, besides firefighters, the emergency service of the gas company SPP - distribúcia and the police usually respond. The police can block streets and help with evacuations. If you smell gas:
- Do not turn on or off lights or electrical appliances. Do not use open flames or matches.
- Open windows and doors to ventilate and leave the building.
- Move to a safe distance and call the single emergency number 112. Do not call from the location of the leak.
- Warn your neighbors, but without panic: gas is lighter than air and quickly disperses in open spaces. It becomes dangerous mainly in enclosed spaces.
If you live in Ťahanovce or near a construction site, be vigilant: until the old pipes are replaced, such situations may happen again.
