Skip to content

Almost 5,000 evacuated in City of London gas leak

News imageRohanneymar via Reddit Crowds of people stand on a pavement and spill into the road on a street in the City of London, surrounded by office buildings and shops.Rohanneymar via Reddit
Surrounding offices have been evacuated

About 4,700 people have been evacuated in the City of London after a gas leak.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it was called at 10:55 BST to Old Broad Street, where crews found a ruptured six-inch gas main at a six-storey office building.

A Cadent gas spokesperson said the pipe was "severely damaged by a private construction team" and its teams are on-site carrying out repairs.

A 200m cordon has been established between Threadneedle Street and London Wall, with nearby buildings evacuated as a precaution.

The Cadent spokesperson added that the work which caused the damage "had nothing to do with Cadent or its pipework".

News imagePolice officers stand beside a cordon on a wet street in the City of London, while fire engines and emergency service vehicles line the road in the background.
Cadent gas and London Fire Brigade are working to make the area safe

The company has also said it is working with LFB to ensure the site is fully safe before people can return to buildings.

Two fire engines from Dowgate and Shadwell fire stations, along with a fire rescue unit from Bethnal Green, remain at the scene.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk