Excavation workers accidentally ruptured an underground pipeline in an oceanfront Mission Beach neighborhood Wednesday, causing a natural gas leak that prompted evacuations and traffic-lane closures while utility personnel worked to halt the spewing fumes.
The construction accident at Strandway and York Court was reported shortly after 11:30 a.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
Pending repairs, firefighters evacuated an area bordered by Ocean Front Walk, Verona Court, Zanzibar Court and Mission Boulevard, and police shut down the latter street between Pacific Beach Drive and Santa Rita Place.
There were no reports of anyone suffering any ill effects from the gas wafting through the busy beach community west of Mission Bay.
San Diego Gas & Electric crews were still working to shut off the broken pipeline in the mid-afternoon, fire department spokeswoman Monica Munoz said.
