Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Officials closed down Newbury Street after several manholes exploded on Tuesday evening.
The incident happened at the intersection of Dartmouth Street and Newbury Street as officials say that six manholes combusted.
Some nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution and energy provider Eversource said that the explosions led to power outages out for 14 of its customers.
Eversource crews were on site after the explosion and are expected to remain there throughout Wednesday as service restorations are made to to help restore power.
One local who lives near the blast and was home when it happened recounted his experience.
“I came out and I smelt a bunch of smoke from over there and the sidewalk was all cut off so I wasn’t sure what happened, but then I figured out there was this big manhole explosion which is obviously scary,” said Josh.
Another resident described the confusion that many felt during the initial moments after the eruption.
“I heard one of the explosions and the whole of Newbury Street was covered in firetrucks and police cars, nobody really knew what was going on at that time around 5:30, 6 o’clock,” said Pietro.
Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
Eversource said that the explosions involved an electrical cable failure which is something that Pietro said he could easily identify.
“It smelt like electrical smoke, and I saw some smoke coming out from a couple ways on the sidewalk, at first I thought it was like a car on fire, but I figured there was way too many firetrucks on the whole street for that,” he said.
The manholes contain explosion-safe covers which prevented them from becoming projectiles.
No injuries were reported and the explosion remains under investigation.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.