London emergency: 'Major gas leak' sparks evacuation of nursery – rush hour chaos
A "major gas leak" has sparked the evacuation of a nursery in London and the closure of a busy road, sparking rush hour chaos.
Mohammad Rakib (@Mohammad12akib) wrote on Twitter: "Getting reports of a Major Gas leak. The Highway (A12) is closed all the way down to Cannon Street Road. Waitrose Wapping has closed and a local nursery has been told to evacuate. Please look for alternative routes home. Expect extra traffic displacement around Tower Hamlets."
Twitter user "Pascal 'don't burn stuff' Hartig" (@passy) wrote: "Good chunk of my neighbourhood in Wapping evacuated because of a fossil gas leak.
"The fact that we're still pumping this directly into people's flats is madness."
Tower Hamlets Police said a gas leak had closed East Smithfield at the junction with The Highway.
Cadent Gas, which describes itself on Twitter as the "UK’s largest gas distribution network", was on the scene dealing with the incident.
East Smithfield jw The Highway CLOSED due to a gas leak. @CadentGasLtd are on scene dealing. Please bare with us. pic.twitter.com/sexXEeve5r
— Tower Hamlets Police (@MPSTowerHam) February 10, 2022
The police force tweeted: "East Smithfield JW The Highway CLOSED due to a gas leak.
"@CadentGasLtd are on scene dealing. Please bear with us."
Tower Hamlets Police then tweeted an update, which said: "@CadentGasLtd are working to try and deal with this gas leak as quickly as possible.
"We will reopen roads as quick as it’s safe to do so."
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@CadentGasLtd are working to try and deal with this gas leak as quick as possible. We will reopen roads as quick as it’s safe to do so. pic.twitter.com/0bpZFvV5nL
— Tower Hamlets Police (@MPSTowerHam) February 10, 2022
Evacuated local residents replied to the tweet from Tower Hamlets Police to ask if it is safe for them to return to their properties.
Yana (@yanakdn) tweeted: "Could you please let us know when is it safe to go back? Thank you."
A map tweeted by the Jambuster traffic account showed huge congestion along a huge stretch of the A13 Commercial Road and surrounding areas.
The service wrote: "A13 Commercial Road (E1) (all directions) at the junction of Cannon Street Road.
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A13 Commercial Road (E1) (All Directions) at the junction of Cannon Street Road - Traffic congestion in the area due to closure at East Smithfield following a gas leak. Use alternative route. Westbound #LondonTraffic https://t.co/D6CsfFXRxU pic.twitter.com/1kZAWLu2D9
— Jambuster (@JambusterLondon) February 10, 2022
"Traffic congestion in the area due to closure at East Smithfield following a gas leak.
"Use alternative route."