Credits: WGRZ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TV Interview Interrupted by Explosion and Flying Manhole (Exploding Cover) | Buffalo, NY | VIDEO A news crew filmed more than they expected when an interview on the street was interrupted by an exploding manhole in the background. A TV news crew was filming as an underground explosion sent a manhole soaring up into the air causing panic as the heavy object fell from sky. A reporter for NBC affiliate WGRZ was interviewing a witness about an electrical fire under a road in Buffalo, New York state today when the explosion took everyone by surprise. Footage of the news interview shows the manhole flying high into the sky directly behind the witness and in full view of the camera. “Heads up, head up, head up,” someone yells, warning everyone to duck to cover. The manhole, which could be as heavy as 50kg, comes down to the pavement with a loud crash close to a man who appears to be an emergency worker. The explosion was the second in a series of three that rocked the busy street and came after several nearby buildings had been evacuated. Power was cut off to the area and the fire brought under control. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined but it’s believed the explosions were probably caused by a buildup of heat, gas and smoke in the confined space underneath the road. TV interview cut short by exploding manhole A television news interview was interrupted when an underground explosion shot a manhole cover into the air, sending bystanders scrambling. The New York, Buffalo community was kept on edge as three explosions went off downtown, believed to have been caused by an underground electrical fire. A reporter for US news network WGRZ was interviewing a witness at the scene of the fire when they were caught off guard by the loud boom of an explosion. The footage reveals a manhole cover flying into the sky, before landing close to an emergency worker. Two buildings had to be evacuated and the area was closed off for several hours. (black man interviewed) Electrical fire causes explosions under Tupper Street An underground electrical fire on Tupper Street in downtown Buffalo caused three explosions Sunday afternoon. No one reported hurt. Two On Your Side was at the scene of an underground electrical fire on Tupper Street near Pearl Street in downtown Buffalo Sunday afternoon. The fire was reported about 11:30 a.m. when witnesses said they saw smoke pouring out of manholes. Buffalo Police closed off the intersection and were keeping people away from the scene. Two buildings had to be evacuated. Two On Your Side photojournalist Dave Harrington said he heard an explosion as he was arriving. Then, while he was interviewing a witness, a second explosion sent a manhole cover soaring into the air. A Buffalo Fire Department official confirms there was a third, smaller explosion at about 2 p.m. National Grid cut off power to the immediate area around the fire. At about 2:30 p.m., firefighters told us the situation was under control, and they terminated their command post at the scene. A National Grid crew remained on site. A spokesman for the utility told us the cause of the fire is still under investigation. They won't know until they are able to pull up the cable that burned, and that could be a few days. The explosions were probably caused by the rapid build-up of heat, gas and smoke leading to intense pressure in the confined space under the road. The sequence of explosions moving along the street shows the fire was probably following a conduit. The spokesman said to expect little to no traffic disruption for Monday morning's commute. Tupper Street was closed between Delaware Avenue and Main Street for several hours. 2015 april footage (full and slow motion)

• published: 13 Apr 2015
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