Thousands in Hochelaga district without electricity due to gas leak

A gas leak in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district forced Hydro-Quebec to cut off power to thousands of customers.

A Hydro-Quebec spokesman said 40,000 customers were without power in the area around Pie-IX Boulevard and Hochelaga Street.

William Murray of the Montreal Fire Department said a call came in about a gas leak at around 3:38 p.m.

Murray said the leak occurred when a 15-centimeter-thick pipe was damaged during excavation work.

“Because of the gas leak, Hydro had to cut about 35 lines, each carrying 12,000 watts. One line corresponds to 3,000 customers. Now some lines have been reconnected, so several lines have power again,” Murray said.

In addition, he said that Energir employees were on site and carrying out the necessary work to stop the leak and restore power.

“Everything should be back to normal within an hour,” Murray noted.