Gas leak empties out downtown buildings

NEWS — A gas leak caused by construction at the intersection near City Hall today emptied out several buildings in the 100-block Victoria Street as crews patched the punctured line.

The accident happened just before 10:30 a.m. when a four-inch gas main was broken by an excavator doing some landscaping work on Lansdowne Street at First Avenue, sending out the pungent odour of natural gas that could be smelled more than a block away.

Kamloops Fire Rescue took charge of the scene within a few minutes.

The Royal Bank at the corner of Second Avenue and Victoria Street, City Hall and other buildings were evacuated as a precaution, with curious employees standing around on sidewalks until they were allowed to return.

Rail traffic was also interrupted.

It took about two and a half hours to get things back to normal.