A Southern California neighborhood was evacuated for more than six hours early Thursday due to a large leak of natural gas from an underground pipe, authorities said.
The leak was detected around 1:30 a.m. in unincorporated West Whittier, about 10 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.
An investigation determined the gas was leaking from a 3-inch line and crews were sent to make repairs, Southern California Gas Co. said in a statement.
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Southern California Gas Co. crews repair a leaking 3-inch gas line Thursday morning, Sept. 14, 2023, in Whittier, California. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
About 75 people were sent to an evacuation center set up at a school.
The residents were allowed to begin returning home around 8 a.m., said Craig Little, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the leak remained under investigation, Little said.