Midtown East residents still urged to remain inside, keep windows closed day after steam leak
MIDTOWN EAST, Manhattan (WABC) -- The dayslong cleanup process continues Thursday after a steam leak on Manhattan's East Side shut down roads, blocked businesses and forced residents to stay inside.
While residents are still being urged to remain indoors, the good news is initial testing for asbestos has turned up negative results. However, road closures are still in place as crews will be washing debris from the street and buildings.
The cleanup process is expected to take a few days. City officials say the cleanup area is extensive, stretching from Third to Park avenues and then East 53rd to East 51st streets.
There was some progress Thursday. Third Avenue and Lexington Avenue have been cleaned and reopened to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, according to Con Ed, and 53rd Street from Third Avenue to Lexington Avenue is now in the process of being cleaned.
"We still are taking these precautions to make sure we don't have asbestos or any of that residue anywhere in the radius of where the steam could have landed," said NYC OEM Commissioner Zach Iscol.
As of now the air-quality tests did not show levels of asbestos, but officials are asking people who live in the area to stay indoors and keep their windows closed until the cleaning is complete.
They are also being asked to wear a mask if they plan on being outside. While residents to understand the situation, they said it has been a frustrating experience.
"As you get closer to where the actual steam pipe issue occurred, there's more to clean up," Iscol added.
At Buttercup Bakeshop... All the cakes and cupcakes were inaccessible on Wednesday and barely accessible to customers on Thursday. They are hoping for some good news from Con Ed and OEM about the status of Second Avenue tomorrow -- or any news really. They say there's been little to no communication.
"I understand no one wants to provide misinformation, but when immediate businesses are being affected like this there should be some sort of- it doesn't have to be definitive- but any kind of warning, so we can expect what to work with," said Hazem Elgo.
They need to know how much their bakers need to be preparing on the midnight shift.
"They come in, they crack eggs, they turn their flour they do everything at those times, and we get a morning staff that comes in and decorates on top of it, so it's multiple staff, moving people around just to get what you see in the shop," Elgo added.
People in the area described seeing a large plume of steam rising from the area of Second Avenue and East 52nd Street early Wednesday and city officials say the leak became worse until the pipe was capped before 7 a.m.
A source with the FDNY said numerous people had called in over the last week to report their concerns about the pipe.
"The cause of the leak is under investigation, and as soon as we get updated we'll make a public announcement," said Mayor Eric Adams. "We've asked residents in the area to keep windows closed while we clean the streets and minimize pedestrian traffic. We don't have any injuries, thank God, we'll continue to monitor the situation."
In addition to residents, it has also been tough for businesses as some have been forced to close because of cleanup and repairs.
"We finally make the money to pay our bills and this is the busiest week of the year for us, it's devastating, I have to pay my guys, they came in, they have families," said Dominick Sannino of Mimi's Restaurant.
Officials say there is support for businesses impacted by the cleanup and they can file a claim for lost business through Con Edison's website.
The roads in the area will remain closed until the cleaning process is done.
Con Edison will continue to investigate what caused the steam leak to happen.
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