City gas leak

The National Petroleum Corporation (NPC) has confirmed that there was a gas leak in Tudor Street, Bridgetown on Tuesday.

In a statement, the corporation said that gas was detected following an investigation.

“A Portable Methane Detector, which measures the level of natural gas in the area, was deployed and results indicated small traces of methane in the atmosphere. To locate the exact location of the possible leak, the roadway was excavated, further tests were conducted and the gas line has been isolated and capped off from the main supply grid for safety,” the statement said.

When a Barbados TODAY team visited the area, police and other first responders were carrying out their duties near a section of Tudor Street that was cordoned off. Although some businesses were impacted by the situation, they continued operations as usual.

Fire officer Shalika Charles

Fire officer Shalika Charles said the Barbados Fire Service received an emergency call around 11:45 a.m. and a team of four firefighters under the command of Leading Fire Officer Terrel Clarke from the Worthing Fire Station responded to the scene, arriving six minutes later.

“When we got here, we came and we surveyed the area. The police were already here and had a temporary set up in order to keep people from passing through. We put up the caution tape to stop people from coming down from our Abeds [in Swan Street] down to Tudor Street. At least ten businesses along Swan Street and Tudor were impacted,” Charles said, adding that a determination would be made to close the business following investigations by NPC workers.

The statement from the NPC added that the corporation would continue to investigate and update the public on the situation. (SZB)