Fire at Gas Cylinder Warehouse in Mariano Acosta Causes Series of Explosions

The scene was that of a neighborhood paralyzed by explosions, with neighbors locked in, others moving away as best they could, and emergency services working against the clock in a constantly changing risk scenario. The situation continued to be observed with special care due to the risk of new explosions, toxic smoke, and falling debris onto the public road. Until mid-morning, there was no official hypothesis about the origin of the fire. The first reports were limited to indicating that the causes were under investigation and that the immediate priority remained to stabilize the area, cool the perimeter, and prevent the fire from reaching other structures. The fire broke out shortly before 7 on Avenida Constituyentes, between Bustillo and Colombres, and during the first hours, it remained uncontrolled due to the violence of the explosions. The situation was especially delicate due to the nature of the stored material. While waiting for the expert report to determine how it all began, the priority remained on preventing serious injuries and finally controlling a fire that turned a common morning into a picture of domestic warfare in the western part of Buenos Aires. An extremely tense morning was experienced this Wednesday in Mariano Acosta, partido de Merlo, when a fierce fire unleashed in a gas cylinder warehouse caused successive explosions, a huge column of smoke visible from several points in the western conurbation, and scenes of great anguish among neighbors, many of whom opted for self-evacuation due to the risk that cylinders thrown by the shockwave could fall on nearby homes and businesses. In Mariano Acosta, that fear was concrete from the very beginning: neighbors faced not only the fire but also the possibility of a gas cylinder turned into a projectile ultimately causing a greater tragedy. The episode once again brought to the forefront the vulnerability created by warehouses or storage centers for highly flammable materials located in urban or semi-residential environments. The level of fear was such that several families decided to temporarily leave their homes with the essentials. Amid this situation, Merlo Fire Department and Civil Defense teams worked, setting up a defensive operation, prioritizing the safeguarding of adjacent properties before a direct attack on the main focus, precisely because the explosions prevented safe approach. Police personnel from the local station also intervened to regulate traffic and assist with preventive measures. As the morning progressed, journalistic and local reports began to agree that at least three workers at the establishment suffered minor burns and were taken to the Paredes Clinic, while authorities continued to assess if there were more injured and the real extent of the material damage. The head of the Merlo Fire Department and Civil Defense, Sergio Ravelli, explained that the personnel had to operate from the outside to try to contain the spread of the fire and protect neighboring houses. While the operation continued, a mixture of stupor, anger, and fear predominated in the area. Another neighbor recounted that she removed the windows from her home to prevent them from shattering with the vibration of the explosions. A merchant with his store opposite the property said he had to urgently cut the electricity and take shelter for fear of going out, while metal debris continued to fall around. This data is key, because in this type of incident, the first phase of the operation usually focuses less on immediate extinguishing and more on preventing a domino effect in densely populated areas. Witnesses in the area described that the gas cylinders were exploding one after another and that some fragments or whole cylinders were flying great distances, hitting roofs, water tanks, and sidewalks of the block. In parallel, it was indicated that there was a kindergarten nearby, although no victims had been reported in that place at that time. Mariano Acosta, March 25, 2026 - Total News Agency - TNA -.