Gas Leak in Philadelphia Forces Schools To Evacuate
Source: Philippe Gerber / Getty
Streets in the Logan section of North Philadelphia are closed along with thousands of people ordered to evacuate due to a gas main break.
According to the Philadelphia Fire Department, the gas line started to leak early Thursday morning. People were able to see the leak happen in real time by seeing a large amount of smoke that appeared near Olney Avenue near 18th Street and Ogontz Avenue. The fire department asked residents to avoid the area until further notice.
A spokesperson for Philadelphia Gas Works said that around 8:25 am, a private contractor struck a gas main near the 18th and Olney intersection as a part of an ongoing PGW pipeline improvement project. This is when the Philadelphia Fire Department responded to the gas line explosion. Once they arrived on the scene, gas was actively coming out of a 20-inch main, but there were no explosions.
Officials say crews evacuated about 3,000 people in the area, counting Central High School and La Salle students as well as residents of an apartment building. No injuries have been reported.
