Videos have revealed how pedestrians fled Times Square after three suspected manhole fires caused an explosion.
On Sunday, 10 April, just before 7.00pm, a loud explosion was heard in Times Square and tourists were seen away running in panic.
Footage uploaded to social media has showed the extent of the frightening incident as people ran from the New York City square in fear of their lives.
A video posted by one tourist reveals the booming sound of the explosion, before pedestrians begin to flee.
Holding her camera, the girl then sprints away from the square, screaming for her friend, telling her to run and asking, "What the f**k was that?"
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Gary Maclean tweeted: "This isn't my normal tweet but tonight I was 100 foot away from an explosion in Times Square, I took this video a few seconds after.
"I believe it was a fire under ground that blew up. It's a miracle no one was hurt."
Another video shows dozens of people similarly running away, looking back in confusion.
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Brad Ball tweeted: "Huge bang in Times Square around 6:50… followed by sirens and hundreds of people running away.
"Not sure what it was… but a lot of people on edge!"
The explosion is reported to have been the result of three manhole fires between 7th and 8th avenues, according to the New York Fire Department. Police cordoned off the area shortly after.
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Police updated that an 18-storey office building nearby has been found with elevated carbon monoxide levels.
The cellar and sub-cellar are reportedly being vented and mitigated by firefighter crews, ABC 7 reports.
Con Edison, a New York energy company, stated that the explosion took place because of a cable failure near 215 W. 43rd Street.
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The company said: "One manhole exploded in the Times Square area this evening due to cable failure, and a second manhole was smoking.
"At this time, there have been no customer outages, and no reports of injuries or property damage. Our crews remain on location."
Between 2020 to 2021, the Mayor's Management Report revealed that manhole fires have more than doubled in New York City.
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A resident who lives nearby tweeted: "Feeling relieved. With it being the start holy week, I was very scared. When I say my whole apartment shook, my goodness! [...] Two in two years. Wild."
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Poppy Bilderbeck