Nyack, NY (June 11, 2026)

A large emergency response unfolded Wednesday afternoon in Nyack after 71 girls from a Monsey school became disoriented while walking through an underground drainage system during a trip near Memorial Park.

The group had reportedly followed a creek from the park area into an underground passage and continued walking for nearly half a mile before realizing they could not easily find their way back. The tunnel eventually led them toward the downtown area, where authorities were alerted and a coordinated search and rescue effort began.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including Chaverim of Rockland, Orangetown Police, the Nyack Fire Department, Hatzolah EMS of Rockland County, and additional emergency teams from Ramapo and surrounding communities. Crews worked to locate the students, confirm the number of people involved, and make sure all members of the group and their chaperones were safely accounted for.

All 71 students were ultimately located and escorted out safely, B’chasdei Hashem. A small number of individuals were evaluated at the scene for possible dehydration, exhaustion, or other minor concerns after spending an extended period underground. No serious injuries were reported.

The incident drew significant attention in the area as emergency vehicles and volunteers converged near downtown Nyack. Local officials said the response was handled quickly and effectively once authorities learned where the girls were.

The close call is serving as a reminder about the dangers of entering tunnels, culverts, drainage passages, or other underground infrastructure. Even when an entry point appears accessible, these areas can become confusing, poorly lit, slippery, and hazardous, especially for large groups.

Parents, schools, and camp leaders are being urged to review trip safety procedures, keep groups closely supervised near waterways and restricted areas, and ensure that children understand the danger of entering enclosed passages. Wednesday’s incident ended safely, but officials said it could have become far more serious without the swift response of emergency personnel and community volunteers.

71 children from an Orthodox Jewish school have been rescued from underground tunnels connected to a sewer system in New York.

The children reportedly got lost during a trip after they began exploring what was down there.

Emergency crews responded and were able to safely locate… pic.twitter.com/dRpoUvpJxN

— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) June 11, 2026