Gas line ruptured in central Rotorua

FENZ are investigating the smell of gas in central Rotorua this morning. Photo / Ben Fraser

A gas line was ruptured in central Rotorua this morning.

A Fire and Emergency NZ spokeswoman confirmed a gas line had been ruptured by contractors on King St in Victoria.

Two fire appliances were sent to the scene.

Gas company Firstgas said in a statement the leak had been repaired and they were currently looking into how many customers were affected.

A staff member at Insurance Towers on Pererika St told the Rotorua Daily Post the smell of gas was strong in their building this morning as well as in the dairy next door.

"Now it smells like the pilot light on a gas heater. They (the fire service) checked and there's nothing recording, he thinks there's something in the area and it may have just come into our air con rather then being something in our building," the staff member said.

A King St resident said the smell of gas had been strong in the area this morning, describing it as "horrific"

In March, a gas main was struck by a digger near the intersection of King St and Malfroy Rd.

More to come.