One person has been killed and at least 20 others injured when a steam pipe exploded underneath a street in central New York during the evening rush hour.
The explosion in midtown Manhattan sent clouds of steam, mud and rocks into the air and forced the evacuation of nearby streets and Grand Central Station.
The New York Police Department said the incident was not terrorism-related.
Millions of pounds of steam are pumped beneath the streets of New York to help heat and cool thousands of buildings.
The 83-year-old pipe exploded just before 1800 (2200 GMT), sending people running from the scene as steam billowed up from the ground.
As I was running I got pelted in the head by rocks and concrete
Reggie Evans
In pictures: Manhattan blast
The blast left a crater in the middle of Lexington Avenue and sent clouds of steam, mud and rocks into the air.
Two of the injured are reportedly in critical condition.
It is still unclear exactly what caused the accident, but it may have been due to cold water entering the pipe or a break somewhere else in the system.
It is the largest commercial steam system operated by utility company Consolidated Edison.
'Like a volcano'
Firefighters and emergency crews closed off part of the street between Grand Central and the Chrysler building.
Map of New York
Thousands of commuters were evacuated from the rail hub after workers yelled for them to get out.
A witness, investment banker Heiko Thieme, said the explosion was like a volcano erupting.
"Everybody was a bit confused, everybody obviously thought of 9/11," he told the Associated Press.
Reggie Evans also likened the effect to the attacks on the World Trade Center.
"I saw rocks and pebbles coming down. As I was running I got pelted in the head by rocks and concrete," he told the Reuters news agency.
"Steam came up and then the ground started breaking up."
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg later ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack.
"There is no reason to believe whatsoever that this is anything other than a failure of our infrastructure," he told a news conference.
"The big fear that we have is whether there may or may not have been asbestos released."
Environmental officials have told local residents and workers to stay out of the area or remain indoors while they undertake tests for the construction fibre that has been used to insulate such pipes in the past.
In 1989, three people were killed when a steam pipe ruptured
in the city
Source: BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6905738.stm
Explosion rocks central New York
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Musiclover89
- Posts: 1920
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Explosion rocks central New York
"Why not just tell people I'm an alien from Mars. Tell them I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight. They'll believe anything you say, because you're a reporter. But if I, Michael Jackson, were to say, 'I'm an alien from Mars and I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight', people would say, 'Oh, man, that Michael Jackson is nuts. He's cracked up. You can't believe a damn word that comes out of his mouth.' " Michael Jackson
Explosion rocks central New York
Blimey! I don't know if I would want to go walking around the streets knowing there is basically a ticking timb bomb underneath there 
It's very sad that some people have died, only now I expect, the nbetwork will get properly inspected
It's very sad that some people have died, only now I expect, the nbetwork will get properly inspected
Behaviour breeds behaviour - treat people how you would like to be treated yourself
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Musiclover89
- Posts: 1920
- Joined: Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:48 pm
Explosion rocks central New York
woppy71;663233 wrote: Blimey! I don't know if I would want to go walking around the streets knowing there is basically a ticking timb bomb underneath there
It's very sad that some people have died, only now I expect, the nbetwork will get properly inspected
Yeah i wouldnt feel comfortable either but heck i wanna live their in the next few years so that aint gonna dampen my spirtis to get their
It's very sad that some people have died, only now I expect, the nbetwork will get properly inspected
Yeah i wouldnt feel comfortable either but heck i wanna live their in the next few years so that aint gonna dampen my spirtis to get their
"Why not just tell people I'm an alien from Mars. Tell them I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight. They'll believe anything you say, because you're a reporter. But if I, Michael Jackson, were to say, 'I'm an alien from Mars and I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight', people would say, 'Oh, man, that Michael Jackson is nuts. He's cracked up. You can't believe a damn word that comes out of his mouth.' " Michael Jackson
Explosion rocks central New York
It's not just the steam pipes, it's the underground rotting electric high tension lines as well. Some of the iron grilles and covers in the streets are at lethal voltages in New York. Dogs, not having insulating shoes, occasionally get electrocuted if they have a foot on one and they're earthed with another.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Explosion rocks central New York
spot;663244 wrote: It's not just the steam pipes, it's the underground rotting electric high tension lines as well. Some of the iron grilles and covers in the streets are at lethal voltages in New York. Dogs, not having insulating shoes, occasionally get electrocuted if they have a foot on one and they're earthed with another.
Blimey!! :-2 So if the terrorists / muggers / robbers don't get you, the infastructure will. Jeez.... :-3
Blimey!! :-2 So if the terrorists / muggers / robbers don't get you, the infastructure will. Jeez.... :-3
Behaviour breeds behaviour - treat people how you would like to be treated yourself