About 3,000 people were evacuated in central Mexico yesterday, after suspected thieves broke a pipeline, causing a huge cloud of gas to leak over the area.

"To ensure the security of the area's residents, we have moved them to a temporary hostel," said Alfredo del Mazo, governor of Mexico City.

The thieves are believed to have wanted to steal fuel or gas from the Kaktas-Guadalajara pipeline, a major pipeline in the country that carries gas and fuel.