In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the frequency of urban underground gas pipeline incidents, which poses a serious threat to public safety. To gain a better understanding of the characteristics of these incidents, this study conducted a statistical analysis based on 194 publicly reported cases of urban underground gas pipeline incidents in China. The study reveals the occurrence patterns in four aspects:causes of incidents, occurrence time, spatial distribution, and consequences. Based on these findings, the characteristics of the incidents are summarized. The results of the analysis revealed that the primary cause of urban underground gas pipeline incidents is damage caused by third-party construction activities. The number of incidents shows a general increasing trend over the years and exhibits a certain seasonality, with the highest occurrence during the months of July to September. Furthermore, the region of East China, known for its rapid economic development, has a relatively higher incident rate compared to other areas in the country. However, it is important to note that major incidents and relatively large-scale incidents only account for approximately 2% of the total accidents recorded. This study highlights the significant threat that underground gas pipeline incidents pose to public safety. These incidents have the potential to escalate into catastrophic disasters if they are not properly addressed in a prompt manner. The research results are beneficial in reducing underground gas pipeline incidents and their associated losses in China.