Around 20 homes and several businesses were evacuated in Omagh after a gas main was damaged by a third-party contractor on Gortin Road. The incident occurred at the junction with Strathroy Road.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service established a 100-metre exclusion zone as a precaution, leading to the evacuations. Police closed Gortin Road at its junction with Killybrack Road and advised the public to avoid the area.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council opened Omagh Leisure Complex as an emergency support centre for those affected. Residents who had not been evacuated were advised to keep windows and doors closed.

Sinn Féin MLA Nicola Brogan commended the emergency services for their work and said it was important to make the area safe before reopening the road.

SDLP representative Bernard McGrath said he detected the smell of gas from about a mile away while driving into the town centre. He encouraged people to stay away from the area, stay inside, and close doors and windows.

Evolve, the gas company, said a technical assessment established a 15-metre safety exclusion zone within which no properties were located. The wider 100-metre zone was implemented by the fire service in line with operational procedures.

The gas company said supplies to homes and businesses across the town remained unaffected. Emergency services continued to work to resolve the incident, with public safety the priority.