A pipe has burst in Midtown Manhattan causing a generator to explode. The explosion occurred near Grand Central Terminal (GCT) and the Chrysler Building, and approximately at the intersection of 41st Street and Lexington Avenue. Nearby buildings have been evacuated, and a large area has been blocked off. There are reports of a very large crater at the scene.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has officially ruled out terrorism. Grand Central Station was quickly evacuated soon after the incident. Subway lines 4, 5 and 6 have no service in both directions between the 125th Street Station and the Bowling Green Station. The S line service has been shut completely.
The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) received a call at 5:56 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) reporting an explosion. More than 170 firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Witnesses reported that buildings in the nearby area shook. This was a five-alarm response.
At least 20 people have been reported injured, and there is one fatality at this time (someone had heart arrest and died). 2 people are currently in critical condition.
There are potentially harmful materials at the scene of the explosion and HAZMAT crews are on the scene to clean up debris. There are reports that pipes were wrapped in asbestos, but the air is being tested, and results should be available late Wednesday night.
ConEdison Workers are on the scene as well, and it appears that they are working nearby.
Emergency workers are reporting that the situation is not under control, because they are still unable to confirm why the pipe exploded, because they cannot get to the source of the explosion, although the steam is reported as having calmed down from initial pressure (and appears to have cleared out, revealing the crater). There is not a large disruption of electricity in the surrounding area.
GCT is reported to be reopened at this time. An area was cordoned off and people trapped in the vicinity due to fears of asbestos pollution resulting from the explosion (thus, streets were closed and people nearby had nowhere to go). (reported by 7abc, but possibly by other news channels as well)
According to a press conference with the mayor, the pipe involved was built in 1924, and a likely cause of the eruption and explosion was cold water leaking into the pipe, possibly from rain or from a water pipe. A tow truck had fallen into the crater left by the explosion, and the explosion also shattered glass on nearby buildings.
