About 4,700 evacuated in City of London after gas main rupture on Old Broad Street

Mixed · 2About 4,700 people were evacuated from buildings in the City of London on Tuesday 13 October after a gas main was ruptured on Old Broad Street, near Liverpool Street. 1 2 Mixed · 2The London Fire Brigade said crews found a ruptured six-inch gas main at a six-storey office building. It said it was first called at about 10:55 (Metro quotes the brigade as saying 1056). 1 2 Centre · 1A 200m cordon was set up between Threadneedle Street and London Wall, and nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution. 3

Centre · 1Two fire engines from Dowgate and Shadwell fire stations and a fire rescue unit from Bethnal Green were at the scene. 1 Left · 1Metro reported that office workers on the street said they had been told not to smoke in the area. 2 Centre · 1A Cadent gas spokesperson told the BBC the pipe was "severely damaged by a private construction team". The spokesperson said the work had "nothing to do with Cadent or its pipework". 1

Centre · 1Cadent said its teams were on site carrying out repairs. It said it was working with the fire brigade to make sure the site was fully safe before people could return to buildings. 1 Mixed · 2The A1211 Wormwood Street was closed in both directions between Bishopsgate and London Wall. Metro said bus routes 21, 43, 100, 141 and 153 were on diversion, and that rail and Underground services at Liverpool Street station were unaffected. 2 3 Centre · 1No injuries were reported in the coverage. The name of the construction firm and the timing of people's return to their buildings were not given. 1