PCH Reopened, Evacuations Lifted Following Gas Line Break

Pacific Coast Highway was closed in both directions and dozens were evacuated Thursday when workers accidentally ruptured 1-inch-diameter natural gas line in Eastern Malibu.

The leak was reported at 9:40 a.m. Thursday in the 22000 block of PCH near Carbon Canyon Road, according to the Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff's Station.

Both eastbound lanes and one westbound lane was reopened on PCH about 11:30 a.m., Lt. Todd Weber said. The other westbound lane should be reopened in about two hours, he said.

"All the evacuations have been lifted," Weber said.

Thirty homes and 20 businesses were evacuated in a 1,500-foot radius around the gas line break, according to Weber.

"It was strictly precautionary," Weber said. "They evacuated them as a precaution until the gas main could be turned off and the residual gas could dissipate."

PCH was initially closed from Sweetwater Mesa to Carbon Canyon Road and was closed a little more than an hour, the City of Malibu reported.

Denise King of the Southern California Gas Co. said a "third party crew'' was installing a 4-inch water main at the location when the gas line accidentally was ruptured. Gas company crews stopped the gas from flowing at 11:12 a.m.

Weber confirmed that the construction crew ruptured the high pressure gas line while digging with a “back-hoe” type tractor on the shoulder of the roadway.

City News Service contributed to this report. Upload your photos to the story by clicking "Upload Photos & Video."