14 hurt after fire breaks out at Astor Place subway station, FDNY says

Fourteen people were hurt after a fire broke out on a subway vacuum car Tuesday morning at the Astor Place station. 

Firefighters received a call just after 2:15 a.m. about the blaze that sent black smoke billowing from the station. Cellphone video obtained by CBS News New York showed both subway riders and MTA workers fleeing the station.

Officials said the fire broke out as a passenger 4 train was entering the station, causing a chaotic scene for those arriving.

"It was smoke coming from down the platform, filling up the whole station, and it got unbearable. And we all started to cough. A lot of people ran outside," one rider said. 

The fire reached two alarms, and more than 140 firefighters and EMS personnel responded. 

Six firefighters and seven MTA workers were transported to the hospital, while another subway worker was evaluated at the scene.  

The aftermath is causing backups, with 4,5 and 6 trains running with severe delays in both directions.

"Right now we're working with New York City Emergency Management, MTA Police and MTA subject matter experts to be able to figure out next steps to remove this train, to bring it to a safe location, and to open up the track," said FDNY Assistant Chief Thomas Currao.