A quiet afternoon in Lower Manhattan, NYC turned terrifying when multiple manhole covers suddenly exploded, leaving two small children and a woman injured.
The blast happened just before 4 p.m. Thursday at the busy intersection of Warren and Church Streets in Tribeca, according to police. Authorities say a 2-year-old girl, a 4-year-old boy, and a 57-year-old woman were hurt when as many as three cast-iron manhole covers erupted from the street.
The force of the explosion left the victims with minor burns. Police said the two children were singed on their faces and upper chests. All three were transported to New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital and are listed in stable condition.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as emergency crews rushed in. Fire officials confirmed that multiple manhole covers blew during the incident, though it remains unclear what triggered the explosion.
Investigators are now working to determine the cause of the blast that sent debris flying and injured bystanders in one of Manhattan’s busiest neighborhoods.
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