A natural gas leak was responsible for power outages and evacuations in the Polo Park area on Thursday evening, April 12, 2018.
Just after 3:30 pm Manitoba Hydro reported that a strong odour of gas was in the area of St. Mathews Avenue and Empress Street. Power in the area was cut as levels of gas in a nearby substation were high.
Businesses in the area were evacuated and traffic diverted as emergency crews worked to control the leak. Hydro says that the gas was literally bubbling out of the ground in some areas.
By 8:00 pm the affected zone had widened to Strathcona on the east, St. James Street on the west, Ellice on the north and Portage Avenue south. Polo Park mall was also evacuated shortly after 6:45 pm
#mboutage Empress StMatthews update: additional outage required as crews work to resolve situation safely. No ETR currently. Thank you for your continued patience. pic.twitter.com/8NfXb7v6PN
— Manitoba Hydro (@manitobahydro) April 13, 2018
At the peak of the emergency hydro had cut power to more about 20,000 homes and businesses but by 9:30 pm that number had dropped to below 1800.
Crews have cut into the pavement at Ellice and St. Mathews to vent the gas into the atmosphere. According to Hydro crews are working to stop the leak and are using a technique to pinch the leaking pipe stopping the gas flow.
Hydro says that the gas levels at the substation are dropping and once the levels are safe they will begin to restore power in the area.
#mboutage update. Natural gas levels continue to drop. Our plan is to reenergize the substation in approximately one hour, and gradually restore power to customers.
— Manitoba Hydro (@manitobahydro) April 13, 2018
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