Students at Massachusetts Maritime Academy were evacuated Thursday afternoon following reports of a large gas leak on campus. A school spokesperson said the rupture occurred around 2 p.m. when a construction crew struck a four-inch high-pressure gas line that fed most of the campus.”Four-inch line that got struck, high-pressure gas line. Fed most of the campus,” said Bourne Fire Chief David Pelonzi.Cadets said the sound of the ruptured gas line was audible during the evacuation. “I smelled first, and then people came up and told us we gotta get out of here,” said John Dennehy, a sophomore. “They had an announcement over the intercom, then they called us and texted about five times to get us out,” said John Strell, another sophomore. Lily Marceau, who drives shuttle vans for the school, said she noticed the strong smell of gas while returning to campus after her shift. “I was actually driving the shuttle vans for the school, and I had just gotten off shift and was going back to school, and I could smell the gas pretty strongly from outside,” Marceau said.Sky5 was over the school where hundreds of students could be seen walking across the baseball field away from the main campus.There were no reports of any injuries.National Grid quickly shut off the gas, and after about three hours, students were given the all-clear to return to their dorms while utility crews continued repairs.Classes were canceled for the afternoon but the campus will return to normal on Friday.

BOURNE, Mass. —

Students at Massachusetts Maritime Academy were evacuated Thursday afternoon following reports of a large gas leak on campus.

A school spokesperson said the rupture occurred around 2 p.m. when a construction crew struck a four-inch high-pressure gas line that fed most of the campus.

“Four-inch line that got struck, high-pressure gas line. Fed most of the campus,” said Bourne Fire Chief David Pelonzi.

Cadets said the sound of the ruptured gas line was audible during the evacuation.

“I smelled first, and then people came up and told us we gotta get out of here,” said John Dennehy, a sophomore.

“They had an announcement over the intercom, then they called us and texted about five times to get us out,” said John Strell, another sophomore.

Lily Marceau, who drives shuttle vans for the school, said she noticed the strong smell of gas while returning to campus after her shift.

“I was actually driving the shuttle vans for the school, and I had just gotten off shift and was going back to school, and I could smell the gas pretty strongly from outside,” Marceau said.

Sky5 was over the school where hundreds of students could be seen walking across the baseball field away from the main campus.

There were no reports of any injuries.

National Grid quickly shut off the gas, and after about three hours, students were given the all-clear to return to their dorms while utility crews continued repairs.

Classes were canceled for the afternoon but the campus will return to normal on Friday.