Explosion Damages Veterinary Medicine Campus at UGent, One Injured
A blast at the veterinary medicine campus of Ghent University (UGent) in Merelbeke, Belgium, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, caused significant damage to a building and injured one student. The incident underscores the potential dangers associated with agricultural gas buildup on university properties.
According to early reports, the explosion occurred around 9:10 a.m. Local time and was caused by a buildup of methane gas in a manure storage area. A portion of a building’s exterior wall was blown away and a student sustained temporary hearing loss and was taken to a local hospital.
“The explosion appears to be due to an accumulation of methane gas in a manure storage facility,” said Mayor Egbert Lachaert. “The material damage is considerable. Fortunately, only one person was slightly injured.”
The injured student was reportedly in shock following the incident. Authorities have established a perimeter around the research building on Salisburylaan to investigate the possibility of further hazardous substances being released from the laboratory. Officials confirmed that no dangerous substances have entered the environment.
A structural assessment of the building is underway to determine the extent of the damage and ensure its stability, as the shockwave from the explosion reverberated throughout the structure.
Six ponies housed on the campus were safely evacuated as a precaution. Other buildings on the campus remained open, and activities continued as scheduled.
The incident is under investigation.
