Exotic fruit's 'gas leak' smell keeps German fire department busy

DW

Monday, 6 October 2025 (16:01 IST)
The fire brigade in the German city of Wiesbaden was called out four times on Saturday due to concerns over gas leaks, with the cause being the smell of the durian fruit.
 
The Southeast Asian fruit's smell, which resembles that of gas, was noticed by visitors to a shopping center in the city, located in western Germany.
 
Despite the fire brigade's measurements being unable to detect the presence of gas and the building lacking a gas connection, emergency services were called to the area again the same evening due to the apparent smell of gas.
 
After searching neighboring shops, the fire brigade found the fruit in an Asian supermarket. According to the authorities, the shopping center's ventilation system presumably distributed the smell throughout the building.
 
A similar case took place the same evening. Residents reported the smell of gas in the staircase of a residential building, only to find that a neighbor who brought the fruit was responsible for the scent.

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