Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Tokoroa gas leak forces evacuation of 200

Updated at 5:29 am on 21 March 2010

The residents of about 200 homes in Tokoroa had to be evacuated when a gas main was ruptured on Saturday morning.

The gas distributor Vector says a worker from a different company was digging up the road with an excavator when he ruptured the pipe.

Police and the Fire Service cordoned off properties between the railway line and Papanui St.

They say changing wind directions made their work harder, but the wind did help to disperse the gas.

Those evacuated had to spend an hour and a half at a local school before being allowed home when cordons were lifted at about 1.20pm.

Vector says the pipe was one of two lines, so gas supply to the area was not cut.

Copyright © 2010, Radio New Zealand