Manhole explosion shuts down busy Midtown street

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- A busy street in Midtown was shut down during the height of rush hour Wednesday as technicolor flames exploded out of a manhole near Port Authority Bus Terminal.

The fire started just after 6 p.m. at a manhole on 40th and 8th. Traffic was closed off from 34th to 41st, but the streets have since reopened.
[Ads /]
VIDEO: Josh Einiger on the scene



According to Con Edison, the fire was caused by smoking electrical cables inside the manhole. There were no reports of outages in the area.


[Ads /]
The fire was placed under control by the FDNY shortly before 9 p.m.

25 people evacuated from a private shelter at 274 W 40th street. They have all self-relocated.