ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Hundreds of people were evacuated after what was described as an "explosive" gas main break erupted in Oakland County Sunday night.

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Residents Describe Explosive Noise Consumer's Energy Official Explains What Happened

The threat from the gas main break has ended, but tens of thousands of dollars worth or natural gas was lost, Local 4 reported. The break opened a natural gas transmission line, which sent the pressurized gas into the air and shook the ground, according to the station's reports.

Residents in Orion Township neighborhoods near Squirrel Road, just north of Dutton Road, said the sound could be heard and felt for miles just after 10 p.m. Witnesses said the noise sounded similar to a jet airplane.

Consumer's Energy puts gas under extremely high pressure in order to move it to residents' homes, Local 4 reported. The pipleline -- 20 inches in diameter -- broke outside a transmission station where they add a strong odor to the gas, according to the report.

Consumer's Energy representative Debra Dodd said crews who were called to the scene patched the hole around midnight.

"Fortunately we were able to use valves to shut off that section of main, and get the gas turned off fairly quickly," said Dodd.

Investigators spent the night at the scene, and said an evacuation of nearby residents went smoothly. Rochester Adams High School and Rochester High School were opened to evacuated residents until they could return to their homes.

Consumer's Energy crews remained at the scene Monday morning to continue with repairs.