Emergency services are responding to reports of a chemical leak in Central Wellington this evening, where residents have been evacuated.

Police have evacuated about 50 people from a roughly 200m perimeter around the area since the first reports were received shortly before 9pm.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said they were responding to a “hazardous substance” on Salamanca Rd in Kelburn this evening.

”We have set up a command point are are investigating,” said Fenz.

“At this stage the substance has not been identified. It is reported to be odourless.”

People are asked to avoid the area around the intersection of Salamanca Rd and Kelburn Parade.

A police spokesperson said: “cordons are in place on Salamanca Rd in Kelburn as emergency services respond to a potential gas leak”.

A Northland resident was travelling home on the bus when it was pulled over by police.

The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We’ve just been told there was a massive gas leak along either upland or Salamanca road and a few people have fallen over because of it.”

“Both cops and fire were there blocking the road off,” they said.

Anyone in the area that is feeling unwell should call 111 without delay.

The emergency response is unfolding less than 1km from where several people in a Victoria University science lab were evacuated at the end of January following a chemical leak.

Five fire appliances, including a Hazmat unit and a command unit, rushed to Victoria University in Wellington on January 28 after an incident at its Kelburn campus.

Fire and Emergency shift manager Chris Dalton told NZME an alarm had gone off at the university.

“People at the university reported strange smells and banging noises coming from one of the science labs. It appears to be some sort of reaction,” Dalton said.

Public health staff also attended the incident.

Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.