Firefighters Contain Butane Gas Leak in Andorra la Vella Apartment After Evacuation

Firefighters from Bombers d'Andorra contained a butane gas leak from an open kitchen tap in a fifth-floor apartment at number 4 Carrer Prat Primer in Andorra la Vella on Monday evening, following the evacuation of the building and an extended security operation.

A neighbour in the building alerted authorities around 6:45pm after detecting a strong gas odour between the fourth and fifth floors. Responding teams used explosimeters to verify elevated butane gas levels near the Starc hotel and Roca Ribes building, prompting a full evacuation. Residents were moved to a safe distance of 50 to 60 metres at number 51 Carrer de Vianants.

Emergency services established a perimeter across Carrer Prat Primer, Carrer de Vianants, and Maria Pla, closing roads to traffic and diverting bus routes. The response involved up to four fire crews, two police patrols, traffic agents, and an ambulance from the Servei d'Urgències Médiques.

Technical teams systematically checked each floor, identifying the source in the fifth-floor kitchen where a gas tap had been left on. They isolated the supply, ventilated the building—described by the cap de bombers as the most delicate phase—and performed final safety checks at ground level. Xavier Roig, the officer on duty, confirmed the sequence to Diari d'Andorra, emphasising the focus on precise leak detection and risk reduction.

The incident generated tension in the area until resolution around 7:40pm to 7:45pm, shortly before 8pm, when the perimeter was lifted and residents returned. No injuries or property damage were reported.