ABOUT 50 shoppers and retailers in Watton St were evacuated from central Werribee for more than an hour last Thursday after workers ruptured a highly flammable natural gas pipe.
Workmen in the area noticed the natural gas leak from the smell and hissing of a pipe, and immediately notified emergency services.
No one was injured from the gas leak, but it could have been far more serious, said Mick Sporton, CFA Region 14 operations officer.
“Natural gas, even in sparse quantities, can be highly flammable so someone lighting a cigarette or a spark from a passing car could cause the gas to go up in flames,” he said.
It took four CFA teams about 30 minutes to make the area safe.
People near Video Ezy and KFC were evacuated immediately, then others in the adjoining supermarket and shopping area.
“People remained calm while they were being evacuated and this greatly increased the success of the evacuation effort,” Mr Sporten said.
