Evacuations were ordered as a precaution after a gas main line rupture in Union City, New Jersey, authorities said. No injuries were reported.
PSE&G said in a Thursday afternoon statement it was "aware and actively working on repairing damage to a natural gas main at 2600 Summit Ave in Union City." The smell of gas saturated the neighborhood so intensely that most residents were wearing masks in an effort to deal with the odor.
Clouds billowed out from a gaping hole in the street, ensconcing a white truck in the area, around 10 a.m., Chopper 4 showed. An initial call about the incident came in around a half-hour earlier.
PSE&G says it appeared a contractor was excavating when the damage occurred. The contractor was not hired by PSE&G, the utility said, and noted the investigation was only in its preliminary stages.
"The safety of our community is always our top priority. Following our protocol, local police and fire ordered the evacuation of nearby buildings, which included a high school and apartment complex," PSE&G said.
No injuries were reported. People were later allowed back into their homes, after having to wait nearly three hours before PSE&G was able to get to the valve to turn off the gas. Then water had to be pumped out of the trench.
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Crews were at the scene well into the evening, making repairs and filling two significant trenches that were left on 26 Street after construction mishap sent the neighborhood into a tailspin.
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"It was pretty big gas line, 20 inches, so there was a lot of panic," said Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Marc Franco, describing the sound when the main ruptured as "like an airplane."
The water company that was doing what should have been a routine water main repair said the gas line was not marked. PSE&G said that claim is under investigation.
