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Gas Main Break In San Francisco Prompts Massive Evacuation

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A gas main break that caused part of San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood to be evacuated Sunday afternoon has been capped, officials said.

The rupture was first reported at around 12:10 p.m. near Fourth and Market Streets, where a construction crew reportedly struck a six-inch gas main, PG&E spokesman J.D. Guidi said.

Several buildings and businesses in the area were evacuated, including Moscone Center and Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco police Officer Albie Esparza said.

Gas Main Break in San Francisco Prompts Massive Evacuation

Several residents were shuttled on Muni buses to a nearby church, a fire department dispatcher said.

The leak forced scientists and doctors who had been attending The Endocrine Society's annual meeting to leave Moscone Center for a few hours of sunshine. A nearby Whole Foods market and other buildings in the immediate area of the leak also were cleared as a precaution, while cars were kept out of a four-block radius.

The leak was capped around 2:48 p.m., Guidi said.

PG&E was still working to repair the pipe but people are being allowed to return to their homes and businesses in the area, according to city officials.

No injuries have been reported.

Traffic has reportedly been very heavy in the area.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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