Houses in Bethlehem, Tauranga are being evacuated in response
to a gas leak.
Fire service northern communications shift manager Colin
Underdown said a 50mm gas main had been ruptured by workmen
on Orange Lane.
The fire service was at the scene and houses were being
evacuated while firefighters worked to isolated the gas
supply.
Police are also assisting in evacuating the area.
Residents of Orange Lane were evacuated and others left
waiting outside safety cordons.
Dave Burnett said there had been another gas leak yesterday
but it hadn't generated such a large response.
He said workers putting in ultra-fast broadband cables had
broken the gas main.
"They closed off the road, just put a couple of cones, and
took them away about half an hour later.
"It was a really strong smell, it went right through the
whole house."
Mr Burnett said he was surprised emergency services weren't
called to the gas leak yesterday.
Firefighters with breathing apparatus could be seen spraying
water from their hoses today.
Forty-week pregnant Justine Eden was stuck in her car at the
corner of St Andrews and Orange Lane for over an hour.
Mrs Eden was expecting to go into labour at any moment and
wasn't thrilled about not being able to go home.
"I want to go home and have an afternoon sleep because you
never know when you're going to go into labour," she said.
- Bay of Plenty Times
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