Private construction crew ruptures gas main in City of London, forcing nearly 5,000 office workers to evacuate

A ruptured six-inch gas main on Old Broad Street forced around 4,700 people out of buildings in the City of London after London Fire Brigade was called at 10:56am on Tuesday. Gas supplier Cadent confirmed the pipe was "severely damaged by a private construction team" and stressed the damage had nothing to do with Cadent or its own pipework. A 200-metre cordon stretching between Threadneedle Street and London Wall was lifted shortly before 2pm, with workers allowed to return. No injuries were reported, though the London Ambulance Service dispatched a hazardous area response team as a precaution.

Workers spilling onto the street were told not to smoke, with one social media user reporting Old Broad Street "reeked of gas."

Six bus routes — the 21, 43, 100, 141, 153 and 344 — were diverted, though Liverpool Street rail and Underground services ran unaffected.

A road closure on Great Winchester Street remains in place while engineers complete repairs to the damaged pipeline.