Natural gas leaking from a ruptured line on Main Street near Besse Park forced the evacuation of residents in the immediate area and Cedar Street Thursday afternoon as first responders secured the site.

According to emergency broadcasts, the rupture occurred at 4 p.m. at 72 Main St., a home with several apartments. The leak was secured at 5:01 p.m.

Broadcasts reported that residents were “sheltering in place” at Tobey Hospital as National Grid crews were en route to the leak.

According to an eyewitness, who declined to be identified, a man using a backhoe struck the line while digging in the building's front yard.

The witness said the man digging yelled to a second person assisting to get back after striking the line. He then reportedly attempted to cover the leak with dirt before driving the backhoe away from the leak.

Wareham and Onset firefighters, National Grid's emergency response team, in addition to Wareham and State Police, responded. Main Street from the entrance of Tobey Hospital to Warr Avenue was closed to traffic as police redirected drivers away from the scene.

In the yard, natural gas could be seen billowing out of the leak as first responders made sure residents were safely evacuated.

As a precaution, firefighters used gas meters to test the air in surrounding neighborhoods. According to broadcasts, stiff winds hampered those efforts.