Black Diamond evacuation ends after 'significant' gas leak

Residents and businesses near downtown Black Diamond, Alta., were forced to evacuate Saturday morning while officials responded to a "significant" gas leak.

Officials said the driver of a truck trying to park near a downtown ATCO Gas building accelerated, hitting the building and rupturing a gas line.

That led to the issuing of an emergency alert shortly after 10 a.m., which cited an "incident" in the community's downtown.

Crews contained the gas leak later in the morning, ventilating the building while conducting further repairs.

Evacuees who were forced out of the downtown area were told they could gather at the Oilfields Regional Arena. Shortly after noon Saturday they were told it was safe to return to the area.

"The downtown streets will reopen as soon as emergency crews can wrap up and leave the scene," reads a post on the town's website. "The back alley behind the ATCO office and the Black Diamond Gospel Chapel will remain closed until those road repairs can be completed. This will take a couple of days."

Black Diamond is home to nearly 3,000 residents and is located about about 66 kilometres south of Calgary.