Hundreds Evacuated From Midtown Building After Gas Leak

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Midtown building was evacuated late Thursday afternoon after multiple people noticed a strong odor of natural gas.

As CBS2's Jessica Schneider reported, Con Edison said a gas leak in a nearby underground main was likely to blame.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the building at 498 Seventh Ave., at 37th Street, just before 4 p.m., Joe Biermann reported from Chopper 2.

Numerous people had noticed a strong smell of natural gas, and the FDNY rushed to the scene, Biermann reported. There were no reports of anyone being injured or sickened.

Police officers and firefighters shut down the sidewalk on the block adjacent to the building and ordered everyone off. The adjoining east-west side streets – 36th and 37th streets – were also closed.

Con Edison later concluded that a gas main buried under 37th Street was leaking. They said they would have to drill through and cut up the sidewalk to get to the main, and shutting it off would take some time.

Many on the street said they did not know what was going on, but said they were not too concerned.

"This happens all the time around here," said Ralph Fuccillo of Garden City. He added that he was "not really" concerned because "there's enough air here to dissipate it."

A faint smell of gas was noted in the air near the building late Thursday afternoon, Schneider reported.

According to the FDNY, the buildings should reopen Friday morning.