MANHOLE EXPLOSIONS CAUSE POWER OUTAGES ON 72ND
Four manholes exploded on Wednesday night on 72nd street near Riverside Drive, with at least one witness claiming she saw flames leap out. The explosions caused power outages to several buildings in the area, according to NBC News. A Con Edison power outage map now indicates that the power has been restored.
We’ve contacted Con Ed and will update this story if we hear more about what caused the explosions, and whether there are still any power problems.
“We had a report of a manhole fire reported by the FDNY. It caused one building to have partial power for about an hour,” wrote Con Ed spokesman Allan Drury in an email. The cause was “failure of underground electrical delivery equipment,” he wrote.
One witness said on twitter that Con Ed had just been doing work in the area.
Manhole covers blew up outside my building on 72nd btw WEA & RSD Suspicious since Con Ed was laying new cable in them just YESTERDAY.
— Priscilla (@CillaG) July 11, 2013
She added that power was still spotty on Thursday:
@westsiderag Power is limited. Last nite the lights flickered but never went fully out. FD still has our elevator & boiler shut down.
— Priscilla (@CillaG) July 11, 2013
Another noticed flames after the explosion:
A manhole cover just blew on W. 72nd St. A big hole, and there were flames. Fire engines here in under 10, just as I called 911. Not bad.
— Amy Goldschlager (@AmyGoldschlager) July 11, 2013
Con Ed worked through the night to repair the damaged cables, but power remians limited to many of the buildings, at least on the south side of 72nd btw RSD & WEA.
In order to conserve, the Fire Dept cut power to our elevator and boiler. But I’d rather have the ac than the hot water.
No estimate about when Con Ed will be able to restore full power that I am aware of.