Evacuations have been lifted after a natural gas leak Saturday morning in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle. The reported gas leak was near Republican St. & Westlake Ave. N. in the South Lake Union area. Crews evacuated the area from Mercer St. S to Thomas St and 9th Ave N east to Fairview Ave N for a short time. Firefighters gave the all clear saying that air quality had returned to safe level and evacuations were lifted. A spokesperson with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) said a third-party excavator was digging in the area and punctured a 2-inch hole in a gas line. Crews were able to secure the gas line around 11:45 a.m. Crews said it could take a few hours to repair the line. PSE crews continued to measure air quality in the immediate area to ensure safe levels.