About 1500 people were evacuated from a Westfield shopping complex in Sydney's south on Thursday afternoon, and children had to be escorted by police from their schools, after a large-diameter gas pipeline was ruptured nearby.
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Just after 5pm, Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Ian Krimmer said there was "traffic chaos" in the area at Wandella Road in Miranda and emergency services were advising people to avoid the area.
While there were no recorded injuries, authorities had established a 50-metre exclusion zone from the leak at a construction site adjacent to the shopping centre and were monitoring air quality, he said.
"We've been able to stem the leak substantially, but it is still leaking," Superintendent Krimmer said.
It could still take some hours to stop the leak entirely.
Children leaving for the day from a nearby primary and high school were guided by police to safety from school grounds, he said.
The leak was detected just after 2pm.
Kingsway was closed in both directions between Sylvania Road and Kiora Road and was expected to remain closed for a number of hours.
Wandella Road was also closed between The Boulevarde and President Avenue.
The Transport Management Centre said traffic in the area was heavy.
"Route 962, 968, 969, 970, 971, 974 and 976 buses as well as school services are delayed up to 30 minutes and are being diverted because of the road closures," the centre said in a statement.
"Bus passengers can use their tickets to catch trains on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line instead."
Shortly after 5pm, Wandella Road in Miranda also remained closed and traffic was very heavy on nearby The Boulevade and Princes Highway.
About 5:30pm the TMC advised that all lanes on King Street in Newtown had been reopened after a water main burst earlier in the day.
About 1500 people were evacuated from a Westfield shopping complex in Sydney's south on Thursday afternoon, and children had to be escorted by police from their schools, after a large-diameter gas pipeline was ruptured nearby.
Just after 5pm, Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Ian Krimmer said there was "traffic chaos" in the area at Wandella Road in Miranda and emergency services were advising people to avoid the area.
While there were no recorded injuries, authorities had established a 50-metre exclusion zone from the leak at a construction site adjacent to the shopping centre and were monitoring air quality, he said.
"We've been able to stem the leak substantially, but it is still leaking," Superintendent Krimmer said.
It could still take some hours to stop the leak entirely.
Children leaving for the day from a nearby primary and high school were guided by police to safety from school grounds, he said.
The leak was detected just after 2pm.
Kingsway was closed in both directions between Sylvania Road and Kiora Road and was expected to remain closed for a number of hours.
Wandella Road was also closed between The Boulevarde and President Avenue.
The Transport Management Centre said traffic in the area was heavy.
"Route 962, 968, 969, 970, 971, 974 and 976 buses as well as school services are delayed up to 30 minutes and are being diverted because of the road closures," the centre said in a statement.
"Bus passengers can use their tickets to catch trains on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line instead."
Shortly after 5pm, Wandella Road in Miranda also remained closed and traffic was very heavy on nearby The Boulevade and Princes Highway.
smh.com.au
