VENICE—A natural-gas line ruptured on Monday, October 30 prompting evacuations throughout the surrounding Venice area.
Firefighters responded to the site of the incident at around 1:35 p.m. Monday, as reported by CBS2 Los Angeles. The leak was discovered near 2013 South Walgrove Avenue. Officials discovered suspicious containers which prompted authorities to call in a police bomb squad. Authorities are continuing to search for the tenant of the property, who is suspected of having tampered with the gas line.
Approximately 50 surrounding homes were evacuated near the property and streets were closed to traffic between Vienna Way and Victoria Avenue. Authorities opened an evacuation center at the Penmar Recreation Center at 1341 Lake Street for residents displaced by the leak. Roughly half a dozen residents utilized the center’s services.
The Southern California Gas Company sealed the ruptured line and dug to reach a shut-off valve which was closed by 8 p.m. Gas service was restored to the affected customers by early Tuesday morning.
