A gas leak in the village of Montour Falls on Thursday afternoon led to emergency evacuations, road closures, and a temporary disruption of natural gas services for hundreds of residents. The leak occurred around 3 p.m. when a gas line was struck, prompting swift action from local authorities.
The Schuyler County Office of Emergency Management immediately ordered evacuations for several streets north of Main Street, including Washington, Henry, West Genesee, Clinton, and Ayers streets. Residents and businesses in those areas were evacuated, while those south of Main Street were instructed to shelter in place as a precaution.
As the situation unfolded, the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office provided updates through social media, initially estimating it would take two to three hours to resolve the leak. By 4:45 p.m., officials confirmed that New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) had successfully stopped the gas leak, allowing evacuated residents to safely return home.
However, the incident left approximately 400 NYSEG customers in the village temporarily without natural gas service. Authorities have not yet provided a timeline for when services will be fully restored.
In addition to the evacuations, the gas leak caused significant traffic disruptions. All lanes of State Route 14 were closed, with northbound traffic being rerouted to Johnson Hollow Road and State Route 414. Southbound traffic was also redirected to State Route 414.
No injuries were reported, and officials are continuing to monitor the situation as repairs are made and services restored.
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