Multiple evacuations on U of M Twin Cities campus due to gas leak

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A number of buildings on the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus were evacuated Tuesday because of a gas leak.

A tweet from the university says the Minneapolis Fire Department ordered the evacuation of Williams Arena, Huntington Bank Stadium, McNamara Alumni Center, the Aquatics Center, Recreation Center, Mariucci arena and the Maturi Sports Pavilion.

Fire officials advised people to stay away from the area on the East Bank campus.

Crews responded to a hazardous materials call from contractors working on sewer tunnels in the area after “gas monitors alarmed, high petroleum smell and a visual of petroleum” in the sewer tunnel.

This is the second gas leak to impact the U of M campus in recent weeks. On June 30, there was a fire and gas spill in a nearby sewer line, which blew manhole covers out of the street along University Avenue.