Gas leaked from a ruptured pipe in a section of Bathurst's central business district on Tuesday and firefighters closed the area and evacuated people.

Traffic was stopped in William Street, between Russell and Church streets, and 50 people were evacuated from surrounding buildings around 9:40 a.m., according to Western Advocate.

Two fire units with 10 men and an ambulance was on standby as crews wearing breathing apparatus detect the source of the leak in Elie's Café. Council workers were working on a gas pipe outside the café when gas leak occurred.

The café was forced to shut down when it was filled with 40 customers. "It's going to cost a lot of money," Western Advocate quoted owner Elie Issa as saying. But he praised emergency crews for responding fast.

Employees from McIntosh McPhillamy and Co. located in the Royal Hotel building said they smelled the gas upon arriving in the office. They were evacuated.

Emergency crews declared the area safe by noon and reopened William Street to cars.

The gas leak source was at Elie's Cafe located at the Royal Hotel.