A gas line rupture possibly caused by a landslide shut down all lanes of the Golden State (5) Freeway in the Castaic area as crews worked to turn off the gas.
The initial call of the ruptured gas line and possible explosion came about by 4:2o p.m. on a hill above the Golden State Freeway just north of Lake Hughes Road, California Highway Patrol Officer M. Curtiss told City News Service.
Video from the scene showed a large cloud of debris floating toward the freeway and a loud whoosh sound could be heard.
The CHP issued a SigAlert shutting down northbound and southbound sides of the Golden State Freeway, with northbound traffic diverted to state Route 126 and southbound traffic diverted to Pearblossom Highway (state Route 138), Curtiss said.
The raw egg smell of natural gas was reported to the Los Angeles Fire Department from residents in Granada Hills, Porter Ranch and Sylmar. LAFD spokeswoman Jennifer Middleton relayed that the Los Angeles County Fire Department confirmed the gas line rupture. The Gas Company and county fire department were working to contain the leak
NBC4 video was reporting nearby residents have been told to shelter in place.