Respiratory risk at evacuated Melb store

A Melbourne supermarket remains partly closed due to chemical contamination.

About 100 shoppers were evacuated from a mutli-level supermarket in Richmond about midday on Saturday due to a chemical scare.

The centre had been contaminated with gas, believed to have been caused by concrete sealing works in the neighbouring building.

The bottom floor of the Nicholson Street supermarket has been reopened, however the top floor remains closed due to "unacceptable" levels of contamination.

"The brigade will remain on scene with specialist detectors to monitor the situation until the levels make it safe to reoccupy," the MFB said in a statement on Saturday afternoon.

The floor was expected to stay closed into the night, with shoppers also warned they may risk developing respiratory issues by entering the store.