About 4,700 people were evacuated from offices in the City of London on Tuesday after a gas leak caused by a ruptured main near Old Broad Street.
The London Fire Brigade said it was called at about 10.55am to a six-storey office building, where crews found a ruptured six-inch gas main. A 200-metre cordon was established between Threadneedle Street and London Wall, with nearby buildings evacuated as a precaution.
Two fire engines from Dowgate and Shadwell fire stations, along with a fire rescue unit from Bethnal Green, attended the scene. London Ambulance Service confirmed it was alerted shortly before 11.30am and dispatched its hazardous area response team and an incident response officer. No injuries or patients were reported.
Gas network operator Cadent said the pipe was "severely damaged by a private construction team" and that its teams were on site carrying out repairs. The company said the work that caused the damage "had nothing to do with Cadent or its pipework."
The fire brigade later said the gas leak incident had been resolved. Staff began returning to their buildings after being told at 1.05pm they could head back inside. One receptionist who was evacuated told The Standard: "We were told ahead of time and followed evacuation procedures. We were standing around for a couple of hours waiting for updates." Asked how they felt about going back in, they said: "We're relieved."
An employee on Old Broad Street said: "People were evacuated early this morning because of a gas leak at the junction, but it seems to have been resolved now."
Rail and underground services at Liverpool Street station were unaffected, though bus routes in the area were impacted.