The smell of natural gas has been detected in the northeast area of Berkeley, according to a Nixle alert released by Berkeley Police Department on Monday evening.

According to the alert, PG&E is aware of the matter and is investigating the area. PG&E spokesperson Karly Hernandez said the PG&E dispatch center received the first call regarding the odor about 6:20 p.m. Since then, PG&E has received approximately 36 calls about the odor, and the calls appear to be moving north.

Hernandez said crews are on the scene and have discovered that the odor is migrating north from Berkeley and has now reached El Cerrito. Because the odor is moving, officials believe that it may not be a gas odor, Hernandez said.

“If it was some sort of gas leak it wouldn’t be migrating,” Hernandez said. “You would continue to smell the gas odor from where it was originating.”

PG&E is going to be employing sensitive gas leak detection technology that will help identify both the location and cause of the odor, Hernandez said. With this technology, a vehicle drives around the scene and is able to sense the odor. According to Hernandez, the vehicle is on its way to the scene.

Although officials suspect that the odor is not caused by a gas leak, Hernandez said until it could be definitively proven, PG&E does not want to speculate on the cause of the odor.

“Providing safe and reliable services is our top priority,” Hernandez said. “The crews are working (as) safely and quickly as possible.”

Anyone with questions about the issue and concerns about gas odors is asked to call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

Check back for updates.