Gas leak causes evacuation in Halifax neighbourhood

HALIFAX – A number of buildings were evacuated Friday in south Halifax because of a natural gas leak.

Halifax Regional Fire Department tweeted that the natural gas line was permanently capped.

Two apartment buildings in the area were evacuated, affecting 40 to 50 people in each building.

Heritage Gas says the leak happened at 11:04 a.m. on Hollis Street, near South Street.

The fire department says it took about 90 minutes to pinch the leak.

The gas company says repairs were being done on the line and its cause was under investigation.

Traffic was snarled through the city’s downtown. Hollis Street is a main artery for truck traffic that connects Halifax’s port to major highways.