UPDATE:
FortisBC has confirmed to Victoria Buzz that repairs are now complete, service has been restored to the affected customer, and Pandora Street has reopened to traffic.
— original:
A stretch of Pandora Avenue in downtown Victoria was shut down Tuesday afternoon after a gas line was damaged, prompting emergency crews to evacuate nearby buildings and cordon off the area between Quadra and Vancouver streets.
According to the City of Victoria, the incident occurred when a third party struck a gas service line, triggering an immediate response from FortisBC and local first responders.
People were asked to avoid the area and follow the instructions of on-site personnel while crews worked to contain the leak.
FortisBC confirmed the gas is now under control and repairs are underway, though it’s unclear exactly how long the work will take. “We expect that repairs will be completed this afternoon,” the utility said in a statement.
⚠️Pandora Street closed, Vancouver to Quadra, due to a gas leak.
Avoid the area.
Evacuation underway.
Follow all directions of signs and first responders. #YYJTraffic pic.twitter.com/u18RycZUa0— City of Victoria (@CityOfVictoria) June 17, 2025
One building in the area is currently without gas service. FortisBC says its priority is always to ensure safety before restoring service to affected properties.
“When our system is damaged, there are a number of steps that FortisBC takes to restore service safely and as quickly as possible,” the company said. This includes stopping the flow of gas, repairing the damage, and sending crews to relight appliances once the system is back online.
The company also issued a reminder about the importance of calling BC 1 Call before digging, noting that many gas line strikes are avoidable.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, and emergency crews remain on scene managing the situation.
