Gas Leak Causes Evacuations On SMU Campus
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Repair crews on the Southern Methodist University (SMU) campus are still working to find a gas leak, but the 'all clear' has been issued on campus and evacuation orders have been lifted.
A construction crew is believed to have hit a gas line around 8:45 a.m.
SMU officials sent out alerts to evacuate buildings in the northeast section of the main campus.
Several campus buildings, area residences and fraternity houses were vacated for more than an hour.
Classes were disrupted in three engineering buildings, Caruth Hall, Embrey Engineering and the Junkins Building.
SMU spokeswoman Kim Cobb spoke with CBS 11 News and said students and area residents were temporarily advised to avoid the area near Dyer Street and Airline Road
Just before 11 a.m. an SMU spokesperson said Atmos repair crews couldn't actually locate the gas line break, but had shut down gas service. The smell associated with natural gas is still very pungent in the air and crews continue to search for the source of the leak.
"Our [SMU] emergency personnel have established an 'emergency zone' around the affected area. Atmos is working to take care of the situation as soon as possible," Cobb said.
University officials said they were keeping faculty and students up to date through their webpage and by social media.
CBS 11 News has crews in the air and on the ground and will have more information on the gas leak and evacuations as it becomes available.
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