HOUSTON, Updated 1:18 p.m. CDT October 5, 2000 -- Houston Independent School District officials evacuated an elementary school Thursday after a gas leak broke out in southwest Houston.

The incident happened shortly before 11:30 a.m. across the street from Thompson Elementary School, 3500 Tampa, at an old Chevy dealership.

HISD officials told News2Houston that four children with asthma were complaining that it was hard to breathe. Paramedics were called to the school as a precaution, officials said.

The students were returned to their classroom a half-hour later.

The cause of the gas leak is under investigation.