Gas leak in downtown Ottawa forces evacuations near Queen and O'Connor

[guest]

Emergency crews are on the scene in downtown Ottawa as buildings are being evacuated for a reported gas leak.

The leak is in the area of Queen Street and O’Connor.

Traffic disruption due to gas leak @ Queen St. and O'Connor St. @OttFire on scene with @OttawaPolice directing traffic. Please avoid area.

— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) May 2, 2017
​

Police say four buildings are being evacuated. These include 155 Queen, 131 Queen, and 45 O’Connor.

Live footage from the scene:


Workers in the World Exchange Center said they could smell gas in their building and could hear a hissing sound.

Photo taken in the area of the gas leak by Jon Willing.

Photo taken in the area of the gas leak by Jon Willing.


One witness on the scene posted on Twitter that they could smell gas from up as high as the 16th floor, and could see what might be gas coming out of a hole near an excavator.

.@ctvottawa @OttawaCitizen gas leak at O'Conner and Queen. Gas smelled at 16th floor. Gas seen spewing out of hole by excavator. pic.twitter.com/6izl1SvlPR

— joelcrawford (@joelcrawford) May 2, 2017
​

Fire department crews on the scene include two ladder trucks, three pumper trucks, and two hazardous materials trucks. A command centre has been set up at O’Connor and Slater.

Traffic is being blocked and re-routed in a two-block radius around the scene.

There are construction crews in the area, and police had already been on scene when the gas leak was reported.

More to come.

查看原文...