South Bend Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations: HealthWorks Museum

by Amy Judd | October 7, 2010 at 07:51 am

88 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

A Massive Gas Leak in South Bend Indiana Has Prompted Evacuations Downtown

The gas leak is near the HealthWorks Museum and has caused about a dozen buildings to be evacuated including the courthouse and the County-City Building.

Residents in Robertson's Apartments are also being evacuated and according to the South Bend Tribune the sound of hissing gas can be heard for blocks around the leak. The valve still has not been closed, but officials are working hard to close the high-pressure line.

All evacuees are being asked to go to the McDonald's restaurant at 416 N. Michigan St and from there they will be taken to the University of Notre Dame.

Fire officials are asking people to stay home until at least 2 pm, when they hope to have the situation under control.

No injuries have been reported. Police and other emergency workers have set up a command post at the intersection of Michigan and Washington streets.
Several downtown streets have been barricaded, and motorists are being urged to avoid the downtown area.

The gas line break was reported at about 8:20 am on Thursday morning, and while officials hope to have the situation under control soon, it is not known how long it will take to cap the leak.