1 Dead, 18 Injured In NYC Explosion

(AP)  An underground steam pipe explosion tore through a Manhattan street near Grand Central Terminal on Wednesday, swallowing a tow truck and killing one person as hundreds of others ran for cover amid a towering geyser of steam and flying rubble.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the explosion was not terrorism, though the blast caused a brief panic about a possible attack.

"There is no reason to believe whatsoever that this is anything other than a failure of our infrastructure," he said of the a 24-inch steam pipe that had been installed in 1924.

Eighteen people were taken to local hospitals, officials said. One person was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital from an apparent heart attack, Bloomberg said. Two were in critical condition and another two were seriously injured. The others suffered minor injuries.

The explosion caused widespread chaos as residents and commuters heard a huge blast — and feared for the worst. Thousands of commuters evacuated the train terminal, some at a run, after workers yelled for people to get out of the building.

A titanic geyser of steam and mud shot from the center of the blast, generating a tremendous roar. The initial burst of steam rose higher than the nearby 77-story Chrysler Building, one of Manhattan's tallest buildings. The air near the site was filled with debris.

Debbie Tontodonato, 40, a manager for Clear Channel Outdoor, said she thought the rumble from the 6 p.m. explosion was thunder.

"I looked out the window and I saw these huge chunks that I thought were hail," she said. "We panicked, I think everyone thought the worst. Thank God it wasn't. It was like a cattle drive going down the stairs, with everyone pushing. I almost fell down the stairs."

Heiko H. Thieme, an investment banker, had mud splattered on his face, pants and shoes. He said the explosion was like a volcano. "Everybody was a bit confused, everybody obviously thought of 9/11."

Streets were closed in several blocks in all directions. Subway service in the area was suspended.

There were also concerns about what was spewed into the air. Some of the pipes carrying steam through the city are wrapped in asbestos. "The big fear that we have is there may or may not have been asbestos release," Bloomberg said.

Officials wouldn't know until test results until later, the mayor said, but if there was a release it may have washed away with the water that came with the steam.

The steam cleared around 8 p.m., exposing a crater several feet wide in the street. A red tow truck lay at the bottom of the hole.

Con Edison spokesman Chris Olert said workers were still trying to determine what caused the blast.

Millions of pounds of steam are pumped beneath New York City streets every hour, heating and cooling thousands of buildings, including the Empire State Building.

The steam pipes are sometimes prone to rupture, however. In 1989, a gigantic steam explosion ripped through a street, killing three people and sending mud and debris several stories into the air.

That explosion was caused by a condition known as "water hammer," the result of condensation of water inside a steam pipe. The sudden mix of hot steam and cool water can cause pressure to skyrocket, bursting the pipe.

[josey2006]

How much you wanna bet that the section of steam pipe that failed, a section recently replaced by ConEd workers, was manufactured in China?

[thefarmer77]

"I agree with whoever is saying that this is a planned attack by LORD BUSH! IT's true...I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO THINKS THIS. Thank god!"

Posted by retrolution at 12:02 AM : Jul 19, 2007

Wow!!! .... let see - a pipe installed in 1924. That is 2007 - 1924 = 83 years old. I do not know about you guys, but I do not believe the life of a steel pipe in steam service, i.e. Water, would last 84 years!!!

[slim1h2o]

"other than a failure of our infrastructure,%u201D he said of the a 24-inch steam pipe that had been installed in 1924."

With less and less money going to infrastructure,and more and more money going to fight terrorism , we'll see more of these cases of systems falling into disrepair and exploding,and falling down,...We still need to invest money into these systems, or it will be to our detriment.

[jshmks]

You guys really do love Bush. Well it's time to hop off and shave. Thanks.

[cantshutup]

crowds running like cows ??? well, now if any terrorists have any plans they know how sheeple will act...maybe it was bushies idea of another practice run...although i suppose it's a good idea not to take off running, but to access the situation without panicking...i understand why some did, but you just can't...cell phones not working? where was that stated in the article??? who can explain that? if that's the case, it's just too coiincidental...g*dd*amn that cheney must be up to something..

[swwils]

So yet another accident that had everyone thinking"Terrorist",well if this country would get it's head out of it's you know where, we wouldn't be dodging and jumping everytime a freak accident happens.There is no sense in the American people to speculate terrorism everytime something goes wrong!We are the most powerful nation on this planet,and should make the rest of the world tremble before we do.So congress you make sure Homeland security gets all the money it needs to keep us safe here at home.

[grazinggoat]

ZEITGEISTmovie.com, ZEITGEISTmovie.com, ZEITGEISTmovie.com, every skeptical and every republican should watch it. It's skin scolding.

Thanks fascistusa for this posting.

-With all this I'll never be able to sleep without having the American People remove this tyrant spokesperson whom I called from the beginning the Gearge Walking-Liar Bush.

Again ZEITGEISTmovie.com juste copy paste in your URL.

[ovation56]

My apologies Richdog. I meant to send my reply to Retrolution.

[ovation56]

Mr Richdog, you mention in your piece that you believe that the president is keeping everyone in fear. I tend to disagree with you and here is why.

Before 9-11 the people weren't all that hip to know about the threats that this country was facing everyday. Now, after 9-11, there has been a clamor that the public needs and wants to be kept informed. So that is what the gov't is doing, keeping us informed. I don't think the threats against our country have increased that much. I think that we just know more about them because we are being kept up-to-date.

I don't expect you to agree with me. But again, I said my piece and I respect yours.

[ovation56]

President Bush is a great president and will be seen as a man who stood by his word and not cater to bias public opinion polls. The reason we haven't been attacked again is because of the decisions the president has made, along with the advice from his staff. I am sorry you don't see it that way. I don't blame you, I just think you are misguided. I was once too. I am glad there will be another Republican in the White House in 2008. It is the only way our country will stay protected and the economy will continue to flourish. Thank you.

(see people, I said my peace and I didn't put anyone down nor did I have to curse. It can be done.)