Not Terrorism – Steam Pipe Explosion Rocks Midtown Manhattan
July 18, 2007 by national
Filed under Homeland Security News
Homeland Security has determined the explosion is not suspicious.
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A steam explosion tore through a Manhattan street Wednesday night about a block from crowded Grand Central Terminal at the height of the evening rush hour, sending residents running for cover amid a plume of steam and ash.
New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said it was not terrorism related. There was no immediate word on injuries. Subway service was suspended because of the explosion.
Unconfirmed news reports said at least three people were injured. WCBS-TV reported two of the injured were in critical condition.
An eyewitness told WNBC that one of the injured appeared to have suffered severe burns.
Hundreds of firefighters and police flooded the area, and Con Edison crews were on the scene.
Aerial video of the scene provided by FOX5 clearly showed a huge gaping hole in the middle of 41st Street, with a 20-foot tall geyser spewing brown mud on the cars and buses quickly abandoned by drivers.
