Emergency services evacuate Central Shopping Centre

Gympie’s major shopping centre has been evacuated and a number of people assessed and taken to hospital.

Gympie Central Shopping Centre has been evacuated following a suspected gas leak that led to multiple people being taken to hospital.

A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said the gas leak was reported at 12.11pm and paramedics were called the shopping centre on River Rd and Excelsior Rd.

Four fire crews arrived at Gympie Central after a gas leak was reported.

Fire crews are entering the shopping centre to find the source of the suspected gas leak.

Paramedics were still assessing patients two hours later, and five people were taken to Gympie Hospital with gas inhalation symptoms in a stable condition.

Four fire crews were on scene and searched the area after the structure was evacuated, a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said.

Emergency Services parked outside Woolworths Gympie by the click and collect.

Police were on scene to assist the evacuation and everyone inside the building was evacuated shortly before 1pm, a Queensland Police spokeswoman said.

Just after 2pm, customers were let inside the shopping centre.

“The team at Gympie Central is assisting Queensland emergency services after a suspected electrical smell was identified inside Woolworths. As a precaution the centre was evacuated immediately,” a spokesperson from Vicinity Centres said.

“QFES cleared the centre and Woolworths to reopen, however Woolworths’ Direct to Boot area will remain closed until further investigations are carried out,” they said.