THIRTY-FIVE houses were evacuated and a 100-metre exclusion zone set up after a car crash led to a “significant gas leak” in a Scottish town.
East Ayrshire Council said the evacuation was ordered following a car crash in Kilmarnock at around 9:25am on Monday morning.
They further said that no injuries or casualties had been reported.
Police said the restrictions around Livingstone Court had been lifted around three hours after the crash.
We are aware of an ongoing incident near Livingston Court, Kilmarnock that caused a major gas leak. A 100-meter safety zone is in effect, and 35 homes have been evacuated to St Joseph’s Academy. No injuries have been reported. For more details visit https://t.co/lnD1JSgKvR pic.twitter.com/B7Y9oTnTm8
— East Ayrshire (@EastAyrshire) August 14, 2023
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were called around 9.20am on Monday, 14 August, to a report of a one car crash on Livingstone Court, Kilmarnock.
“Emergency services attended and the road was closed due to a gas meter being damaged.
“A number of houses were evacuated while the meter was made safe. They were able to return around 12.35pm and the road was re-opened.”
A spokesperson for East Ayrshire Council had said: "We are aware of an incident taking place in the vicinity of Livingston Court in New Farm Loch, Kilmarnock. At approximately 9:25am this morning, a car crashed into a property, which caused a significant gas leak in the area.
"A 100-metre exclusion zone has been established and 35 properties have been evacuated. A rest centre has been established at St Joseph’s Academy for these residents. Please note there are no injuries or fatalities.
"Scottish Gas Networks are in attendance to manage the gas leak, but the extent of works is unknown at this time.
“We are working with our partners in Police Scotland, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, and Health and Social Care Partnership to ensure everyone’s safety. Further information will be available in due course."
Waseem Hanif, a spokesperson for gas distribution company SGN, said: "We were called to a property in Livingston Court, New Farm Loch, this morning to support the emergency services in our capacity as the nation’s gas emergency service provider.
"Our engineers have carried out checks and made the area safe."
