Roads were closed and residents evacuated after a gas leak in Launceston. Image credit: Meshcube, Freepik
Tasmanian emergency services closed roads and evacuated residents of an inner Launceston suburb after a gas line ruptured on Friday morning.
The leak saw high pressure gas “spewing” out of a broken pipe, according to witnesses.
Video footage showed a foggy substance covering nearby homes and trees.
A man working in the area said he could hear what sounded like “running water”.
The fire brigade began evacuating all households within 150 metres of 18 Rooms Avenue, Invermay.
Residents were told to evacuate immediately as they were in the danger zone and to only take what was on them.
An evacuation alert was also sent via text message.
Police closed the roads and directed traffic away from the area.
The Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) confirmed that a gas line had ruptured, causing a leak.
“Exposure to this material will present an immediate danger to people in the Rooms Avenue, Invermay area,” the TFS said.
“If you are away from home, do not try to return to the area. Non-residents should stay away from the affected areas.”
The leak was under control shortly after 11am and the roads were reopened.
An alert said, “The gas leak incident on Invermay Road, Invermay has been contained and the area made safe.”
Investigations are underway on how the gas leak occurred.
“Until we do further investigations, we’re not going to be able to give any detail on the actual incident in relation to how it occurred,” said station officer Anthony Goss.
“Due to the nature of the incident, Launceston Airport also had to be notified as well, because natural gas is lighter than air, so that was to inform them of the potential hazard and risk involved.”
Impacted residents are safe to return to their homes and gas supplies will be restored shortly.
