Midtown subway steam explosion... *Pictures and Video Added

Careful if you're out that way...

http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/Home ... geId=1.1.1

NEW YORK (AP) -- Fire and emergency crews responded to the scene of a suspected steam explosion near Grand Central Station in Manhattan on Wednesday during the evening rush hour, officials said.

The New York Police Department said a steam pipe exploded, and had no immediate detail on possible injuries. The NYPD said it does not appear to be terrorism-related.

A large column of gray smoke poured from the vicinity of a building near Grand Central Terminal and the Chrysler Building, and the air near the site was filled with ash.

Thousands of commuters evacuated the train terminal, some at a run, after workers yelled for people to get out of the building.

Witnesses reported that their buildings shook.

The MTA says due to this police investigation, 4, 5 and 6 trains are bypassing Grand Central-42nd Street Station in both directions at this time. Also, there is no S train service the entire line.

Please expect delays in service on the 4, 5, and 6 trains at this time.

Also, due to a water condition as a result of this morning's thunderstorm, E, F, R and V service have resumed, with residual delays.

Explosion reported in Manhattan
Incident not terrorism-related, officials say; 2 people reportedly injured

July 18, 2007
NEW YORK - Fire and emergency crews responded to the scene of a suspected manhole explosion in Manhattan on Wednesday during the evening rush hour, officials said. It was not terrorism-related, the officials said.

Smoke was seen billowing above the east side of Manhattan, and several blocks were evacuated.

Two people were injured in the four-alarm incident near Grand Central Station, and several nearby buildings were evacuated, according to NBC News.

Ash is raining down in the area. I suspect it's a volcano.

http://www.drudgereport.com/ns.jpg
(ABC photo)

Not the subway... Seems to be a steam pipe... I was just on-scene, the area is a mess, a complete zoo... Never seen anything like this at all, besides 9/11... There is a huge crater on Lexington Ave, and I've never seen steam shoot out of something so quickly. You could hear the steam billowing out of the hole all the way from 33rd Street and Lex... There's a school bus directly adjacent to the whole, hopefully no children were in there or hurt. I took some pics and vids, I will post them later...

Can't wait to see them, Clark. With the trains in Queens a total nightmare today I'm waiting out rush hour at the office so I was tempted to head down there, but now you've saved me the trouble. :)

There is a friggin TOW TRUCK totally inside the middle of the hole. A TOW TRUCK!!!!!

Up to 12 injured at this time. Reported as steam pressure related not an explosive device.

For those who may not know Con Ed supplies steam in Manhattan. As you can see from the many video feeds the pressure is considerable to get the steam up to the top floors of the skyscrapers.

A dozen years ago there was a similar explosion on East 51st Street. After that event the whole neighborhood needed to be decontaminated for asbestos. Con Ed has been abating the steam pipes but there is a possibility this area has not been abated.

Well I hope nobody was hurt or got asbestos in their lungs!

Edit: In the process of writing this people got hurt. Get Better!

1 dead, 17 injured according to ABC. :(

Insane video of the steam shooting out...amazing more people weren't injured or killed: SImhkapRuIs

Who is the unfortuenate fatality? Tow truck driver?

Bloomberg:
--24 inch steam pipe was installed in 1924
--Burst possibly caused by cold rain water getting onto it
--One person died of cardiac arrest
--20 civilians, 4 firefighters injured, some serious injuries, some minor
--Verizon service disrupted in neighborhood, electrical and gas service unharmed
--Asbestos possibly involved, testing underway

Wrong place at the wrong time. Sad to hear

By the way, everyone dies from cardiac arrest. It's what leads up to cardiac arrest that kills you.

Wow looking at the footage when the the news crews got there is crazy. A huge 1 1/2 lane hole blowing out hot steam with evacuated MTA buses and taxis.

Excellent point, EMS. Unless it was a guy 2 blocks away who freaked out and had a heart attack, injuries from steam pipes are quite horrific.

Holy crap! I work at 33rd and Lex and should have been going through there on the 6, right at 6pm. I left early to go uptown today and somehow didn't even know about this until now. I heard some announcements while waiting for the N about a "police investigation" and the 4-5-6 not running, but this is pretty friggin scary even if it isn't "suspicous."

OK, sorry it took so long... Kinda got lazy and was busy doing some stuff...

Anyway, here are some pics of today.. Yes, they aren't as good as the news quality, or as good as some of your guys' pics with your Nikon Two Million times zoom cameras, but they aren't edited and are "real life amateur" photography... ooooohhhhh ahhhhhhh

Some notes:

- I've never seen anything like this at all, it was incredible. The steam could be heard from my street, which is on 33rd street, 8 blocks and downhill from the scene. 2 blocks away from the scene, forget about it, it was soo loud, and coming out so quickly; just incredible... Eerily similar to 9/11 in certain aspects....

- Response time seemed to be very good, especially given the fact that there was a huge sinkhole in the middle of the street with steam pouring out in all directions, and that it was Rush Hour.

- NYPD did a great job handling the crowd there, maintaining a good order and discipline. They also did a good job or cordoning off the immediate area to cars.

- When one person runs away from the scene, people will follow suit even if they have no idea what they are running from. lol

- When a person runs towards the scene, everyone stops and follows that person...

- Drivers in NYC/Long Island (making an assumption here) must be clueless or just not care. People in their cars actually thought they were going to go somewhere. These emergencies vehicles were trying to get up 3rd Ave, and cars going crosstown on 36th street on the approach to the Midtown Tunnel wouldn't stop to let traffic on 3rd Ave move out of the way to let these emergency vehicles move. The Pedestrians would just stand there and point, and drivers would continue to go across the street. I finally stopped in the Middle of the Street, and stopped the cars from crossing, at which point a NYPD SUV pulled up and we kinda just gave that "people are ****ing idiots" look, while he went to block traffic.

Some even more clearly amateur videos will follow...


Arriving on scene about 610PM
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04854.jpg


Getting Closer
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04862.jpg


On 38th Street
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04847.jpg



About 2 blocks away from ground zero. This was the closest we could get at the time. The police later started moving people back, and this was the closest the media could get the whole time.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04865.jpg


Same story
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04866.jpg


I think the is the best picture out of all of them... 2 blocks away, the thing was raging
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04869.jpg


Rando Fire Truck starting spraying water everywhere
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04868.jpg


The NYPD's Communication Post arriving on scene... I'd say they didn't get there until almost 645PM
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04874.jpg


This National Guardsman was trying to direct traffic the whole time I was there, but wasn't very effective at it... He needed to be a little more vocal and assertive IMO
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04857.jpg


I couldn't not throw in an aviation picture! The NYPD Helo around the Chrysler Bldg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04859.jpg


These guys were going nowhere fast
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04875.jpg


The FDNY's Emergency Response Truck
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04876.jpg


The Cops Finally Closing off 3rd Avenue at 34th Street
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04877.jpg

Ok, now for some really amateur video I took... I think I was zoomed in on the 2nd one, which is why when I move the camera around, it gets all blurry.... The 2nd one is like a minute and 50 seconds, the first one is short...
Sorry for the quality, but I think it gives it character... 8)

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Thanks for sharing. VERY interesting. Better than what you see on the news for sure!

That is F%#*ing intense! The sound and speed of the escapeing steam mezmorized me.

UPDATE ON THE CITY’S RESPONSE TO THE STEAM PIPE EXPLOSION



No Air Samples Test Positive for Asbestos, Clean-Up Plan for Debris and Equipment That Tested Positive for Asbestos Began Overnight



Individuals Who Live and Work in the Frozen Zone Will Not be Permitted to Enter the Area During Clean-Up



The City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) continues to coordinate the inter-agency response to the steam pipe explosion on Lexington Avenue. City agencies continue to operate in the area. All emergencies should be reported to 911.



The following is an update of the City’s response to the affected area:



Department of Environmental Protection



The Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Environmental Compliance has conducted an assessment of air and debris in the area and determined that of eight air samples taken, none tested positive for asbestos. Out of 10 bulk samples – debris and dust – taken from the surrounding area, six registered positive for asbestos and four were negative. With the positive bulk sample readings, DEP will continue testing to further determine the contents of the debris at and away from the site of the explosion.



Department of Health and Mental Hygiene



While exposure to asbestos over many years carries known health risks, the brief exposures that people may have experienced after last night’s steam pipe break are not likely to cause long-term health consequences. Developing an asbestos-related illness after being exposed for a short time – even at high levels – is very unlikely. Although we can never say if something is completely safe, from all the information we have obtained, there are unlikely to be long term physical health consequences.



OSHA, the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration, is on-scene to make sure that workers in the area are taking proper precautions.



As detailed during the Mayor’s briefing, people who may came into contact with the steam or debris should take a shower and place their clothes in plastic bags for cleaning or disposal.



People inside buildings in the frozen zone should keep windows closed and switch air-conditioners to re-circulate the air inside instead of drawing in air from outside.



For more information on asbestos please visit:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ei/eiasbest.shtml



Clean-Up Began Last Night

The clean-up of dirt and debris has begun, led by specially trained contractors. The clean-up of

3rd Avenue has been completed and will be re-opened following electrical work necessary to support the network in the area.



Frozen Zone Remains in Place

In an abundance of caution, and to facilitate an expeditious clean-up, the frozen zone will remain in place. The frozen zone is comprised of the area between 40th Street and 43rd Street and between Vanderbilt Avenue and Third Avenue. While individuals who are already in the frozen zone are permitted to stay where they are, individuals are not permitted to enter the zone from outside the area. As clean-up work progresses, the City will work to shrink the size of the frozen zone.



Members of the media are requested to emphasize to their viewers, listeners, and readers that people who work in the frozen zone, between 40th and 43rd Streets and between Vanderbilt Avenue to Third Avenue, will not be permitted to enter the area on Thursday morning.



Equipment Staging Area Established

A limited-access equipment staging area created by OEM, the NYPD, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene exists from 38th St to 45th St from Park Avenue to 3rd Avenue to allow emergency equipment into the area. While residents and employees of businesses will be allowed into the equipment staging area, vehicles will not be allowed to enter.


Department of Buildings

Buildings inspectors and forensic engineers remain on the scene to assist the Office of Emergency Management with structural assessments and engineering expertise.

Community Assistance Unit

The Mayor's Community Assistance Unit continues to work with affected building owners and local elected officials.


Department of Transportation

The following streets in the area surrounding the steam pipe explosion remain closed to vehicles, as previously announced:



Lexington Avenue is closed from 57th Street to 34th Street.
Third Avenue is closed from 38th Street to 42nd Street.
Park Avenue is closed from 54th Street to 34th Street.
42nd Street is closed from Park Avenue to Third Avenue.
Vanderbilt Avenue is closed for its entire length from 42nd Street to 47th Street.


MTA

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has informed OEM that there are no structural defects or breaches of the subway infrastructure. In addition, no debris from the explosion was found in the subway tunnels in the area.



Metro-North continues to operate regular service into and out of Grand Central Terminal. As announced at the 8:00 briefing, customers may only enter and exit Grand Central via the Met Life Building and Grand Central North at 47th Street.



The 4, 5 and 6 IRT lines have returned to a normal schedule, but service is bypassing Grand Central at reduced speed. The 7 line continues to bypass Grand Central at reduced speed. The 42nd Street Shuttle (S) remains suspended



Passengers on the 4 and 5 lines traveling southbound and headed to destinations near Grand Central are advised to, if possible, transfer to a downtown 6 train at the 59th/Lexington station for service to 51st Street or 33rd Street. Passengers on the 4 and 5 lines traveling northbound and headed to destinations near Grand Central are advised to, if possible, transfer to an uptown #6 train at 14th Street/Union Square station for service to 33rd Street.



Bus Service is re-routed in the vicinity of the area on the M101, M102, M103 and M98. The M104 and M42 buses terminate at Times Square/42nd Street.







-30-

Great coverage there Clark but do you think it wise to be in an area that asbestos may have been released into the air? I think I would have got out of there ASAP!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by T-Bird76

Great coverage there Clark but do you think it wise to be in an area that asbestos may have been released into the air? I think I would have got out of there ASAP!

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It's OK, Tommy, Christie Whitman stopped by to say the air quality was fine, nothing to worry about :wink:

And yes, great shots Clark!

Highway....Was that you playing with the siren during Bloomie's press Conference?!?!? :wink:
Nice shot of the MERV. I miss the days of the MCIs and triage in the old cheese bus MERVs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by T-Bird76

Great coverage there Clark but do you think it wise to be in an area that asbestos may have been released into the air? I think I would have got out of there ASAP!

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Are those the words of a true photographer!?!?

Nice coverage Clark. Nice pictures also of the stem blowing out of the street.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by T-Bird76

Great coverage there Clark but do you think it wise to be in an area that asbestos may have been released into the air? I think I would have got out of there ASAP!

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Haha, I thought about that, which is partly why I only stayed in the "area" (i.e. two blocks from the scene) for just a few minutes. It was actually kind of frightening, because the ground was literally rumbling and the steam was so loud, I was seriously worried that manholes around the area might start going.
Also, the steam was rushing up sooo quickly, that I assumed any type of asbestos particle or the like was immediately blown vertically. Seeing as how I live 8 blocks from this thing, on the 16th floor, I'm probably more screwed up here than I was down on street level!

Plus, I needed to get pictures, obviously, which is of utmost concern....

EDIT: Looks like there was no real asbestos concern, and the area has been partially re-opened, which is always positive.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mellyrose

Quote:

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Originally Posted by T-Bird76

Great coverage there Clark but do you think it wise to be in an area that asbestos may have been released into the air? I think I would have got out of there ASAP!

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Are those the words of a true photographer!?!?

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I've seen relatives die of Asbestos related lung cancer, I'd rather live to shoot something else then to risk it.

I was obviously joking....especially since your signature used to be something along the lines of "something something.....keep shooting!!!"

Didn't mean to offend.

Ah Mel don't take it to heart. Tommy had to deal with the French Canadian Flight crews yesterday so he is in a bad mood! I do not blame him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mellyrose

I was obviously joking....especially since your signature used to be something along the lines of "something something.....keep shooting!!!"

Didn't mean to offend.

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No offense taken.

Does anyone notice how HISS repsonds to all of my posts? I think he wants to be just like me. LOLOL Can't say I blame him.

Anyhow good stuff again Clark. Some of the video from yesterday was pretty unreal, I'm shocked more ppl didn't get killed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by T-Bird76

Some of the video from yesterday was pretty unreal, I'm shocked more ppl didn't get killed.

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Same here, especially in that area. That area is packed during Rush Hour.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by moose135

Quote:

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Originally Posted by T-Bird76

Great coverage there Clark but do you think it wise to be in an area that asbestos may have been released into the air? I think I would have got out of there ASAP!

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It's OK, Tommy, Christie Whitman stopped by to say the air quality was fine, nothing to worry about :wink:

And yes, great shots Clark!

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Yea, a bunch of my friends are dying because of Christie's BS.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NYCMedic

Highway....Was that you playing with the siren during Bloomie's press Conference?!?!? :wink:
Nice shot of the MERV. I miss the days of the MCIs and triage in the old cheese bus MERVs.

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LOL, I said to myself it is probably a bus trying to get through and now we will have another mayor that hates EMS.

What does MERV do exactly?

My GUESS on it is that its a MAJOR mobile command truck.

So after I heard the area was all clear and all tests came back negative for asbestos, I went back today to try and get some pics. The frozen zone is sealed pretty shut, but there were ways in. I couldn't get to the crater, but I got about a block away. Props to Con-Ed and Verizon for working on just about every street corner in the area, and the NYPD for doing what seemed to be a good job keeping people moving in the area....

Oh and if you're even thinking of driving in the area, don't do it. Traffic is ridiculous on the East Side. 5th Ave is bumper-to-bumper, Madison is bumper-to-bumper, 1st is bumper-to-bumper, 34th is bumper-to-bumper....

Here are some pics from today:

Pouring Rain on 38th and Lex... This is where the News Media is set up, and supposedly the southern border of the Frozen Zone on Lex
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04879.jpg


On 40th and Lex looking at the site. Can't see much due to Con-Ed crews in the area
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04881.jpg


News Media is all between 38th and 39th Street and Lex and on side-streets
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04882.jpg


Looking up 3rd Ave at 41st Street.... Empty
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04883.jpg


42nd Street, completely closed between 2nd and Madison
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04887.jpg


Firefighters hosing off 3rd Ave between 42nd and 43rd. Not really sure what they are hosing off, I saw a lot of this in the area, but there was most likely no dust or debris over here. Maybe just taking precautionary measures?
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04890.jpg

Looking up Lexington Avenue at 43rd Street
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04891.jpg


Looking down Lex at 43rd
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04892.jpg


3rd Ave, completely empty
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04893.jpg


Police diverting traffic at 34th and 3rd
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...5/DSC04896.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GothamSpotter

What does MERV do exactly?

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Mobile Emergency Room Vehicle. Can treat multiple patients.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by T-Bird76

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mellyrose

I was obviously joking....especially since your signature used to be something along the lines of "something something.....keep shooting!!!"

Didn't mean to offend.

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No offense taken.

Does anyone notice how HISS repsonds to all of my posts? I think he wants to be just like me. LOLOL Can't say I blame him.

Anyhow good stuff again Clark. Some of the video from yesterday was pretty unreal, I'm shocked more ppl didn't get killed.

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Be like you or beat the living piss out of you on the beach this weekend. ;) GAME ON!!!! :twisted:

the MERV is a mobile ER. i think the one FDNY has can handle up to 2 patients at one time.

the reason they're hosing down the streets is in case asbestos had been released and settles on the surface. this way they wash it into the sewers and off the streets where it can get kicked up be people and vehicles where someone can breath it in. also, keeping the street damp will cause any asbestos that would settle to stay there and not get kicked up again.

man, i really miss that job!