HALIFAX -- Heritage Gas says it is investigating after separate natural gas leaks forced two neighbourhoods to evacuate Tuesday in the Halifax area.
Company spokeswoman Alice McCarron says findings from the investigation will be included in an incident report to be filed with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.
A construction crew contracted by Heritage Gas punctured a main gas line in Halifax's south end Tuesday during routine maintenance, causing several dozen homes to be evacuated and some surgeries to be put on hold at a nearby hospital because power had to be turned off to the area.
A second gas leak was later reported in Dartmouth, which led to the evacuation of three apartment buildings and between eight and 10 homes.
No injuries were reported in either leak.
Heritage Gas has stopped all work as a result of the leaks, and McCarron could not say when operations would resume.
McCarron says details of the company's investigation are still being worked out and she could not comment on how it will proceed or whether a separate report will be issued.
In a statement Wednesday, the Halifax-based company said safety is its No. 1 priority.
"In both incidents, Heritage Gas worked successfully with all first responders to quickly and safely contain both incidents," the statement read.
"Heritage Gas ensures that all contractors are accountable for adhering to our stringent construction safety management process."
