<p>Earlier this week in Canberra, a team of firefighters responded to reports of a gas leak in a store, just to discover that the smell was caused by the pungent odour of a fruit inside the building.</p>

<p>In a fruitless (pardon the pun) search for the source of the leak at the Dickson shopping precinct, emergency responders advised the public to avoid the area.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-stinky-durian-fruit-is-a-big-hit-in-china-317333"><strong>Why stinky&nbsp;durian&nbsp;fruit is a big hit in China</strong></a></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">HAZMAT - Gas Leak - Dickson Shops, Dickson<a href="https://t.co/cIezKTIzUs">https://t.co/cIezKTIzUs</a> <a href="https://t.co/TkPIIOEOVO">pic.twitter.com/TkPIIOEOVO</a></p>
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<p>After spending an hour searching in vain for the gas leak, the emergency responders were advised by the owners of the tenancy above the shops advised them about the potential source of the incident; Durian fruit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Canberra's emergency services agency later said that it was not a gas leak, but in fact a Durian fruit, which gives&nbsp;off a very pungent smell and can waft some distance.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Update - HAZMAT (Gas Leak) - Dickson Shops<a href="https://t.co/9MUokP6rcY">https://t.co/9MUokP6rcY</a> <a href="https://t.co/srkb0zfKMN">pic.twitter.com/srkb0zfKMN</a></p>
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<p>The "king of fruits", this fruit is native to tropical Southeast Asia, where it is loved for its bittersweet flavour and creamy texture.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bakery-in-uk-stops-producing-its-bestselling-biscuit-heres-why-421501">Bakery in UK stops producing its bestselling biscuit, here’s why</a></strong></p>

<p>The pungent produce, however, is compared to rotting garbage or a gas leak by those less fond of the smell. This is why, among other places, it is also banned in hotels and on public transportation in countries like Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the past few years, incidents involving durian have become increasingly common in Australia, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has had two durian-related evacuations, in the past two years itself.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Gravitas: Durian | World's stinkiest fruit goes online</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-durian-worlds-stinkiest-fruit-goes-online-317364/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>In 2019, the University of Canberra library was evacuated due to what was described as a strong smell of gas, but that also turned out to be caused by this fruit. The fruit was found near an air vent on the second floor of the library and removed in a sealed plastic bag.</p>

<p>A similar incident, at the RMIT campus in Melbourne's CBD a year earlier, saw 600 staff and students being evacuated while nearly 40 firefighters, including speciality crews, scanned the building for a feared gas leak.</p>


Earlier this week in Canberra, a team of firefighters responded to reports of a gas leak in a store, just to discover that the smell was caused by the pungent odour of a fruit inside the building.

Earlier this week in Canberra, a team of firefighters responded to reports of a gas leak in a store, just to discover that the smell was caused by the pungent odour of a fruit inside the building. In a fruitless (pardon the pun) search for the source of the leak at the Dickson shopping precinct, emergency responders advised the public to avoid the area. Also read | Why stinky durian fruit is a big hit in China HAZMAT - Gas Leak - Dickson Shops, Dicksonhttps://t.co/cIezKTIzUs pic.twitter.com/TkPIIOEOVO — ACT ESA (@ACT_ESA) October 15, 2021 × After spending an hour searching in vain for the gas leak, the emergency responders were advised by the owners of the tenancy above the shops advised them about the potential source of the incident; Durian fruit. Canberra's emergency services agency later said that it was not a gas leak, but in fact a Durian fruit, which gives off a very pungent smell and can waft some distance. Update - HAZMAT (Gas Leak) - Dickson Shopshttps://t.co/9MUokP6rcY pic.twitter.com/srkb0zfKMN — ACT ESA (@ACT_ESA) October 15, 2021 × The "king of fruits", this fruit is native to tropical Southeast Asia, where it is loved for its bittersweet flavour and creamy texture. Also read | Bakery in UK stops producing its bestselling biscuit, here’s why The pungent produce, however, is compared to rotting garbage or a gas leak by those less fond of the smell. This is why, among other places, it is also banned in hotels and on public transportation in countries like Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. In the past few years, incidents involving durian have become increasingly common in Australia, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has had two durian-related evacuations, in the past two years itself. Watch | Gravitas: Durian | World's stinkiest fruit goes online In 2019, the University of Canberra library was evacuated due to what was described as a strong smell of gas, but that also turned out to be caused by this fruit. The fruit was found near an air vent on the second floor of the library and removed in a sealed plastic bag. A similar incident, at the RMIT campus in Melbourne's CBD a year earlier, saw 600 staff and students being evacuated while nearly 40 firefighters, including speciality crews, scanned the building for a feared gas leak.

Durian fruit triggers 'gas leak' alert in Canberra

<p>Australia declared an emergency in its capital city Canberra in the wake of bushfires threat due to rising temperatures and strong winds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"A state of emergency is the strongest signal we can send to the ACT community that they must prepare themselves and their families," Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory Andrew Barr said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-pm-seeks-greater-federal-powers-to-protect-the-nation-from-threatening-bushfires-277314">Australian PM seeks greater federal powers to protect the nation from threatening bushfires</a></strong></p>

<p>He also warned that the fire might become uncontrollable and said the emergency would continue "as long as Canberra is at risk".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/baby-flying-foxes-orphaned-by-australian-bushfires-get-a-foster-home-276599">Baby flying foxes orphaned by Australian bushfires get a foster home</a></strong></p>

<p>The authorities were forced to take this step after forecasts predicted the fires could hit southern suburbs of the capital city and the heatwave conditions that are expected in the coming days.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The officials also warned of so-called ember attacks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A state of emergency has been declared in the Australian Capital Territory for the first time since 2003 when fires destroyed nearly 500 homes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius were recorded on Thursday in South Australia state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Authorities also feared severe bushfire conditions in parts of New South Wales and Victoria, where over 80 fires are still burning due to searing heat and dry winds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At least 33 people have been killed in the massive bushfires this season that has destroyed vast swathes of the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(<em>with AFP inputs</em>)</p>


Australia declared an emergency in its capital city Canberra in the wake of bushfires threat due to rising temperatures and strong winds. "A state of emergency is the strongest signal we can send to the ACT community that they must prepare themselves and their families," Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory Andrew Barr said.

Australia declared an emergency in its capital city Canberra in the wake of bushfires threat due to rising temperatures and strong winds. "A state of emergency is the strongest signal we can send to the ACT community that they must prepare themselves and their families," Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory Andrew Barr said. Also read: Australian PM seeks greater federal powers to protect the nation from threatening bushfires He also warned that the fire might become uncontrollable and said the emergency would continue "as long as Canberra is at risk". Also read: Baby flying foxes orphaned by Australian bushfires get a foster home The authorities were forced to take this step after forecasts predicted the fires could hit southern suburbs of the capital city and the heatwave conditions that are expected in the coming days. The officials also warned of so-called ember attacks. A state of emergency has been declared in the Australian Capital Territory for the first time since 2003 when fires destroyed nearly 500 homes. Earlier, temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius were recorded on Thursday in South Australia state. Authorities also feared severe bushfire conditions in parts of New South Wales and Victoria, where over 80 fires are still burning due to searing heat and dry winds. At least 33 people have been killed in the massive bushfires this season that has destroyed vast swathes of the country. (with AFP inputs)

Amid bushfire threat, emergency declared in Australian capital Canberra

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Durian fruit triggers 'gas leak' alert in Canberra

Amid bushfire threat, emergency declared in Australian capital Canberra