Gothamist: Manhole Explosions Rock SoHo

s

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 23:03:52 -0500

thanks for posting. i was working in a store on that corner at the time. we closed early, and i came how, turned on the news, checked online, etc. and couldn't find info about the blast anywhere... thank god for gothamist. now i actually know what happened

JM

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 12:54:38 -0500

We never thought it was terrorism..as I am one of the people that feels that media uses it as a mechanism to scare people. What I do know is that from around McDoughal/6th to W.Broadway/Greene and down to Prince, there was smoke. Unfortunately, I was 20 feet from where it happened, in L'Angolo cafe of Thompson and Houston. We stayed inside because we felt it was safe from the smoke, then it started to seep in. They checked for Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Not a good feeling. So I would say that I was not over-dramatic. It was very scary, and I am glad we all got out ok.

jammer

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 11:44:17 -0500

see, I told you. A crazy bum underground...bum wires, that is. Yeah this sucks. I walk that route every evening on my way home. I guess I missed all this mayhem by 5-10 minutes. With my luck, I would have been walking over the manhole as it exploded. The ref. to terrorism was addressed to chattering above JM's comments. I guess, in this instance, the old adage "SHIT HAPPENS" seems apropos.

gb

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:39:32 -0500

This happened before just a few blocks away. I worked in a building at the corner of Broadway and Houston when a manhole exploded and flames shot half way up the back side of the 12 story building (at Mercer Street). Work crews arrived the following week in an attempt to clean away the smoke/fire damage with a pressure washer, but the evidence is still there. I can definitely relate to those who were shaken by the explosions - the booming sound of the explosions along with the resulting smoke and fire can tend to be a little unnerving. I really hope the person who suffered injuries from the shattered glass is doing alright.

huh

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:32:57 -0500

I thought all the manholes moved to Chelsea?

Becca

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:21:13 -0500

I was driving down MacDougal and just got to the traffic light at Houston when the cops decided it would be a good time to close the street. I got a pic on my cameraphone through my dirty windshield - mostly because I was amused at my luck (not the situation though, that was rough). Here is the pic I used it to explain why I was late getting to a party right up the street.

suzuki bean

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:13:04 -0500

and to RicktheCabbie - Good one! Made me giggle!

suzuki bean

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:08:07 -0500

Aw, c'mon jammer, lighten up... JM didn't mention terrorism in his/her post. It was impossible not to be frightened by the situation, there were explosions every few minutes and for a while there was thick stinky smoke that blacked out everything for 3 blocks along Houston. The lights in our building were browning out for about an hour and it would be accurate to describe the scene as chaotic. I never thought for a second that it was terrorism, but it did seem quite dangerous at the time.

jammer

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 08:30:34 -0500

JM, dramatic much? could we not jump to the terrorist conclusion? are terrorists trying to financially ruin via bus stop by blowing up a manhole nearby. bleck. but yet, why isn't anyone talking about this on the news? would be interesting to find out what exactly happened, barring "terrorism". maybe a bum living underground is so wasted he already thinks its new years eve. YOU NEVER KNOW!

JM

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 05:20:06 -0500

I was walking on 6th Ave/Houston, and heard the large explosion. Alarms went off, and it was chaotic..people didn't know what to think. I went to my cafe (L'Angolo), on Thompson/Houston which is by where the explosion ocurred. This part of the village/Soho turned foggy with smoke..for many blocks. We were inside, the firemen told us not to go outside. He told us it was safer...then we heard the 2nd explosion. That was enough, and we headed uptown. It was traumatizing and scary for everyone that witnessed it, and I can't believe this story is being so lightly covered.

RicktheCabbie

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 05:14:41 -0500

It'll turn out that they were just filming additional scenes for Will Smith's movie. Watch.

meesalikeu

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:21:15 -0500

lucky you had that go-bag, my gosh you were all ready, set, go there sailor scout!

jj

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 22:44:11 -0500

sweet t - thanks for the update.

RD

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:51:53 -0500

i love new york

edEx

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:08:06 -0500

with such an old underground infrastructure, should this be a surprise? hopefully, no one was hurt or killed.

sweet t

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:38:45 -0500

For jj: Not to worry, it looks like things have settled down. I live on Houston between Thompson & Sullivan and have an excellent view of the action. Lots of jumbo con-ed trucks, firemen and several fire trucks are still on the scene, but the smoke is gone and the electricity is back on. I did have my go-bag ready to evacuate, but it looks like the situation is well under control now.

Rodney P. Sweetchops

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:01:47 -0500

I wonder if the power will be out for 8 days like it was in Queens when similar manhole explosions occurred. Somehow I doubt it...

boom boom

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:23:12 -0500

Was quite crazy, I was there when it was a strangely colored fire before the manholes exploded. Got lots of pics, uploading now, will post the link once they are up! nycj

S.D.

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:20:32 -0500

Nothing on TV at this time...

RD

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:09:32 -0500

i hope nobody got hurt, but instead, lets rejoice for the quick response of coned... i guess somebody is getting to them. what are you looking at?

Joe

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:06:56 -0500

NY1 is reporting phone outages downtown, including police hq. 9-1-1 is working. Verizon's claiming it is a software issue, so doesn't sound related to the explosion.

Toby

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:55:07 -0500

I have heard some media reports that phone service is down in the area as well.

jj

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:53:18 -0500

could you post more about the damage as you find out? I'm out of town & that is a block from my apartment. can't get in touch with my super. panicking a bit. thanks.

evan

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:50:53 -0500

maybe some terrorist artists trying to reclaim the garish consumerist chi chi mall wasteland that is now soho

RD

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:46:17 -0500

oh god, i was just walking home... i live on thompson just below houston. i love how this happens, isn't the gothamist's offices on thompson as well... right next to my apartment as I remember.. they should be 1st on the scene here..! society needs you to look