Key Points
- Approximately 5,000 people, close to 4,700 in total, were evacuated from nearby office buildings due to gas leakage near Liverpool Street, following the breakage of a gas main in the City of London.
- According to the London Fire Brigade, there was a broken six-inch gas main at a six-storey building in Old Broad Street.
- A 200 metres radius was set up between Threadneedle Street and London Wall.
- London Fire Brigade received an initial call around 10:55-10:56 BST on 13 October 2026.
- Two fire engines, one each from Dowgate and Shadwell fire stations and a Fire Rescue Unit from Bethnal Green responded.
- According to the AA report, Wormwood Street (A1211) was closed in two directions between Bishopsgate and London Wall/Bloomfield Street.
- Bus routes including 21, 43, 100, 141, and 153 were affected while rail/Underground services in Liverpool Street were not affected.
- The London Ambulance Service dispatched its Hazardous Area Response Team and Incident Response Officer but there were no reports of any injuries or patients.
- There were reports that workers in nearby office buildings were told not to smoke.
- According to London Fire Brigade, the incident of the gas leak was sorted out.
Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 13, 2026 – Almost 5,000 office workers and other people were evacuated after a ruptured gas main near Liverpool Street prompted a major emergency response in the City of London.
As reported by the BBC, the London Fire Brigade said it received the first alert at about 10:55 BST concerning Old Broad Street, where crews found a fractured six-inch gas main at a six-storey office building. The Brigade said firefighters were responding to reports of a gas leak and that “a 200-metre cordon has been put in place and around 4,700 people have been evacuated from nearby buildings.”
The evacuation affected offices around Old Broad Street, close to Liverpool Street station and the Bank junction. The London Fire Brigade’s incident log separately recorded that firefighters responded to a gas leak on Old Broad Street at 10:56am.
Why were nearly 5,000 people evacuated?
The evacuation was carried out as a precaution after emergency crews identified a ruptured six-inch gas main at the office block. As reported by The Sun, the London Fire Brigade described the evacuation as precautionary while crews dealt with the leak.
A 200-metre safety cordon was placed between Threadneedle Street and London Wall, requiring nearby buildings to be emptied. The cordon covered a busy part of the City, where large numbers of people work in offices close to Liverpool Street, Bank and Moorgate.
Footage published by Metro showed thousands of people on the streets around lunchtime after the evacuation order. Metro also reported that office workers standing outside said they had been told not to smoke in the area.
Which emergency services responded?
The London Fire Brigade deployed two fire engines from Dowgate and Shadwell fire stations, along with a Fire Rescue Unit from Bethnal Green fire station. Crews remained at the scene after the initial call.
The London Ambulance Service confirmed to Metro that it was alerted to the incident on Wormwood Street shortly before 11:30am. It dispatched its hazardous area response team and an incident response officer. No injuries or patients were reported.
How did the gas leak affect travel?
The incident caused significant disruption to road and bus travel around Liverpool Street. The AA reported that the A1211 Wormwood Street was closed in both directions between the A10 Bishopsgate, at Liverpool Street, and London Wall/Bloomfield Street.
As reported by Metro, several bus routes were disrupted and placed on diversion, including routes 21, 43, 100, 141 and 153. The Evening Standard also listed the same five routes as affected.
Rail and Underground services at Liverpool Street station were reported to be unaffected. However, the road closure and diversions affected movement around the cordon, with delays reported on nearby roads.
Was the gas leak resolved?
The Evening Standard reported that the London Fire Brigade later said the gas leak incident had been resolved. The report did not give a time for the resolution, and the available coverage did not state when the cordon was lifted or when evacuated workers could return to buildings.
Before that update, the Brigade had said crews remained at the scene. The available reports did not identify the office block, the operator of the gas main, or the cause of the rupture.
What did officials and reports confirm?
The London Fire Brigade’s statements, quoted by London Now, the BBC and other outlets, consistently confirmed the location, the ruptured six-inch main, the 200-metre cordon and the evacuation of about 4,700 people.
The Brigade said: “Firefighters are responding to reports of a gas leak on Old Broad Street in the City of London.” It added: “A 200-metre cordon has been put in place and around 4,700 people have been evacuated from nearby buildings.”
The AA’s traffic alert, quoted by London Now and Metro, stated: “A1211 Wormwood Street in both directions closed, queueing traffic due to gas leak between A10 Bishopsgate (Liverpool Street) and London Wall / Bloomfield Street.”
Background of the development
Old Broad Street lies in the City of London, close to Liverpool Street station, Bank and major office districts. The area is heavily used by commuters and office workers, which explains the large number of people affected by the cordon.
The incident occurred after a six-inch gas main ruptured at a six-storey office block. Emergency services established a wide cordon between Threadneedle Street and London Wall as a safety measure, leading to the evacuation of surrounding buildings.
This was not the first gas-related evacuation in the immediate area. In February 2020, about 1,500 people were evacuated from a central London building on Old Broad Street, near Bank, after fire-suppressing gas was accidentally released; the London Fire Brigade said no fire broke out.
Prediction: how this may affect commuters and City workers
For commuters and City workers, the immediate effect is likely to be continued disruption around Liverpool Street, particularly for people travelling by bus or walking through the Old Broad Street, Wormwood Street, Threadneedle Street and London Wall area. The reported closure of Wormwood Street and diversions to five bus routes may add journey time during the working day.
Office workers evacuated from buildings inside the cordon may face delays returning to work until emergency services confirm that the gas main has been made safe and access restrictions are lifted. The Brigade’s reported statement that the leak had been resolved suggests the immediate risk was addressed, but workers should follow official updates from building managers, the London Fire Brigade and Transport for London before returning.
For employers in the affected streets, the development highlights the importance of evacuation procedures, staff communication and remote-working arrangements during sudden safety incidents. For commuters, rail and Underground services at Liverpool Street were reported unaffected, but road-based journeys and bus connections through the cordon area were likely to remain the main source of disruption.
