HUTCHINSON, KANSAS – The City of Hutchinson provided updates on the ongoing situation on South Main Street during a briefing on Thursday afternoon. Public works director Cecil Weible reported that the evacuation zone has been reduced to an area between Avenue D and Avenue F, spanning from Washington Street to Walnut Street. The estimated completion time for the work in the area is around two weeks.
Currently, five businesses are impacted by the situation, with Evergy indicating that twenty customers are without electricity. The Hutchinson Fire Department has wrapped up its operations at the scene, with plans for Kansas Gas to assist business owners in retrieving important documents from their premises under escort by firefighters and KGS employees.
The joint decision by KGS and the fire department to oversee the document retrieval process was made due to the continued presence of gas seepage in the area. KGS has already replaced a significant portion of the gas line under Main Street, with the evacuation zone now confined to Main Street between Avenue D and just north of Avenue F, as well as stretching from Walnut Street to Washington Street.
City officials reassured the community that they will continue to provide updates on the situation as new information becomes available. Residents and business owners in the affected area are encouraged to stay informed and follow any safety precautions issued by authorities.