Gas supply restored following damage to gas main in Omagh

EVOLVE has confirmed that a gas main damaged by a third-party contractor on the Gortin Road in Omagh has been safely isolated and repaired, with gas supplies now restored to seven affected customers in the area.

Following a technical assessment of the damage, Evolve’s engineers established a 15-metre safety exclusion zone around the damaged main, within which no properties were located. The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) subsequently implemented a wider 100-metre exclusion zone, in line with its operational procedures, resulting in the precautionary evacuation of nearby homes and businesses.

Evolve’s response team worked throughout the day and evening to isolate the damaged section of main, with engineers putting temporary control measures in place overnight. The team also engaged with affected customers overnight and again on Thursday morning, keeping them informed of progress and the expected restoration of their gas supply.

The road was reopened and the NIFRS exclusion zone was lifted at approximately 8pm on Wednesday evening. Evolve engineers commenced permanent repair works on Thursday, with gas supplies restored to those affected.

Mark Davidson, Head of Engineering at Evolve, said: “The safety of the public and our staff is always our top priority. Thanks to the efficient response of our engineering team, we were quickly able to make the situation safe and isolate the damage caused to our mains pipeline.

“We are pleased to confirm that gas supplies to affected customers have now been restored, with the permanent repair being completed today. We appreciate the patience of local residents and businesses, particularly those who were evacuated or experienced a temporary interruption to their gas supply. We would also like to thank NIFRS, the PSNI and other relevant authorities for their support throughout the incident.”