Street reopened after Durham gas leak forced homes and gas station to be evacuated

At least five homes and a gas station in Durham were evacuated Monday after a leak from a ruptured gas line, the city’s Fire Department said.

The gas leak occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Alston Avenue, according to a news release.

The street was shut down from Liberty Street to Gilbert Street for several hours before reopening.

Division Chief David Swain said construction workers struck a gas main.

Five or six houses were evacuated, as well as the BP station on Alston Avenue, according to the release.

Dominion Energy repaired the damage.

In 2019, a gas leak on North Duke Street in downtown Durham caused an explosion that killed two people and injured 25 others, The News & Observer reported.

This story was originally published June 14, 2021 at 1:35 PM.