Fruit causes gas scare at Victoria university library

Rotten durian fruit has prompted fears of a gas leak at RMIT University in Melbourne.

In this Nov. 25, 2017, file photo, a cut Musang King durian is shown by a vendor during the International Durian Cultural Tourism Festival in Bentong, Malaysia. Source: AAP

Stinky fruit has led to the evacuation of a university library in Melbourne's CBD.

Traffic was disrupted around RMIT University on Saturday as around 600 staff and students cleared the building amid fears of a gas leak.

Specialist crews wearing masks searched the building for the source of the smell, which turned out to be rotting durian left in a cupboard.

A Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokesman said the smell had alarmed staff and students as it permeated the air-conditioning system.

The waste will be dealt with by Environment Protection Authority officers.

Durian is a tropical fruit known for its strong smell.

It is commonly banned from hotel rooms and public transport in southeast Asia.