Elderly Man Injures Six in Vienna Gas Explosion

Shortly after midnight on Sunday, a massive gas explosion rocked the Floridsdorf district of Vienna, completely destroying a single-family home, according to Austrian public broadcaster ORF. A fire broke out in the rubble, and firefighters and rescue crews called to the scene immediately began searching through the debris.

Specially trained dogs and an acoustic search team quickly located the homeowner, a 93-year-old man who had been buried under the rubble. He suffered second-degree burns, and paramedics took him to the intensive care unit in critical condition.

A police spokesperson confirmed that the 93-year-old Austrian citizen is the prime suspect. The investigation found that someone had intentionally tampered with the gas line in the house, and the prosecutor issued an arrest warrant for the man on suspicion of endangering public safety. The motive may have been an ongoing civil dispute over real estate, though police say they will not confirm this until the suspect, who remains under observation in hospital, has been questioned.

A powerful shock wave and flying debris caused serious damage to nearby houses, windows, facades and parked cars. Six neighbors suffered minor injuries in the incident, and two people, including a 25-year-old pregnant woman, were hospitalized following the rescue operation. Authorities have not yet quantified the total extent of the property damage.

(max)