KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An elementary school was evacuated Thursday morning after a contractor hit a large natural gas line in South Kansas City.
“We had a six to eight inch gas main that was stuck by a contractor with large gas flow. We did evacuate a school on the southeast side that had children there for summer school,” Battalion Chief Jeffrey Johnson said.
About 50 to 75 students at Ingels Elementary School were taken to Ruskin High School because readings at the elementary school were too high for the kids to remain. It also impacted nearby residents.
“I was inside in my bedroom and I heard this big boom, it was really frightening. I’m alive, I thank God for that,” Thomas said.
Residents near the line at Food Lane and Longview were not forced out because gas readings weren’t dangerous, but they were relieved and began clapping when the line was capped and the area was given the “all clear.” They said they heard the rupture and could hear the gas coming out of the line.
“Real, real scary like a big bang like a thunder or something,” said Thomas, who was among those clapping when she heard the hissing gas noise stop. “I thought at first it was water, but it was the gas coming out.”
The gas line that was punctured by the contractor was described as ‘large’ and was capped at about 10 a.m.
