Some details have emerged after a natural gas leak Saturday in east Emporia.
Kansas Gas Communications Manager Dawn Tripp says a technician had reported to 415 East after an odor call. According to Tripp, readings were high enough to investigate further. Specific readings have not been released, but early indications are a “significant” amount of natural gas was in the air at the address.
Tripp says there was an issue with the customer-owned gas pipes inside the house before the call to authorities was made shortly after 6 pm. Further details have not been released.
Emporia Fire worked to evacuate all homes in the 400 block of East and the east side of the 400 block of Sylvan, allowing those residents back inside their homes roughly two hours after the initial call. Traffic on East was blocked at Second, or south of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks. Several trains passed by the area during the investigation without incident.
Bunge North America’s crush facility is across the street from the house in question. Saturday’s operations were not affected in any way by the gas leak.
8 pm Saturday: Gas leak near Emporia’s Bunge facility under investigation
Residents near Emporia’s Bunge crush facility were briefly evacuated after an apparent natural gas leak Saturday.
Emporia Fire responded to 415 East shortly after 6 pm after a Kansas Gas representative at that address noted a significant amount of natural gas. Also responding were Emporia Police and Emporia State Police and Safety.
Authorities evacuated all homes in the 400 block of East, leaving Bunge unaffected. The east side of the 400 block of Sylvan was also evacuated.
Residents were allowed back into their homes within about two hours of the original call. No injuries have been reported.
No injuries were reported. Kansas Gas is investigating the cause of Saturday’s incident. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
{gallery}Gas Leak June 23 18{/gallery}
