Evacuation after gas main rupture
Police rush to remove residents, set cordons
"I’ve got my sick mother with me so I tried to stay, but they asked us to leave"
Evacuated resident
Aruptured gas main prompted the evacuation of properties in central Whanganui yesterday morning. Fire crews and police were called to Liverpool St, near the intersection with Bell St, with contractors rushing to fix the damaged pipe.
Fire and Emergency Whanganui station officer Jason Hamlin said the rupture appeared to have been caused accidentally by contractors.
“We received a call about a ruptured gas main,” he said yesterday. “We’re just going around now and evacuating people from their homes while it is repaired.” Hamlin said a cordon stretching 500m in each direction was put in place.
Police helped with evacuating residents and setting up the cordons.
One resident, who did not want to named, said she was evacuated about 9.45am from her home on Liverpool St.
“I’ve got my sick mother with me so I tried to stay, but they asked us to leave,” the woman said.
“Apparently we will be out here for two hours.”
Gasnet general manager Jim Coe said in a statement Gasnet was advised at 9.10am of third party damage to the gas network in Liverpool St.
“Gasnet responded and requested Fire Service attendance at 9.23am. Fire Service and police determined an evaluation radius of 500m.”
Coe said the main was isolated at 10.17am, with two consumers affected.
“Incident is under control with five Gasnet personnel on site. No one injured.
“House by house, all-clear check for presence of gas is occurring, prior to okay for affected residents to be able to return to their homes.
“Normal service will be restored later today.”
Coe thanked the Fire Service and police for their assistance, and the affected community for their patience.