Brisbane CBD building evacuated over suspected gas leak
Updated ,first published
A suspected gas leak has forced the evacuation of a busy section of Brisbane’s CBD.
A strong smell of gas at a business on George Street was reported to the Fire Department about 8.20am on Wednesday.
Crews at the scene confirmed the leak and shut down the building, including ground-floor businesses along George Street and units on higher levels.
Firefighters had fully swept the building and shut down power shortly after 9am, a Fire Department spokesman said.
Shortly before 10am a specialist from allgas, the building’s gas supplier, had secured the leak.
Police established an exclusion zone around the building, along George Street between Queen Street and Elizabeth Street. One lane of traffic and the footpath in front of the building was closed.
Atmospheric testing from allgas indicated gas levels in the building had dropped to safe levels before 10.30am, although one fire crew remained in the building ventilating the second floor.
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Catherine Strohfeldt is a reporter at Brisbane Times.Connect via X or email.