We just had an underground explosion here in Philly

[PCIntern]

Center City about 15th and Chetnut or so. Many emerg. vehicles rushing...this is the location of the subway here....Developing...

On edit...all blocks closed off and helicopters...haven't broken into local news yet

[redqueen]

1. Oh, God...

[aquart]

2. All our prayers.

[nashville_brook]

3. kick for more info

:kick:

[mourningdove92]

4. no word yet?

this is pretty scary.

[lonestarnot]

5. OMG!

Praying for your city!

[maddezmom]

6. kick

[patcox2]

7. Transformer fire reported, channel 6

nt

[redqueen]

9. Is that all it was?

Please let it be...

[mattomjoe]

8. kick

[EarthNeedsHope]

10. I hope everything is OK for all of you nt

[mattomjoe]

11. I'm hoping this isn't too serious....

... I haven't seen any news bytes about this yet and YOU KNOW they would be all over this story if there was even a hint of tragedy involved

[Poll_Blind]

12. Looks like it's a transformer fire.

6 ABC Action News

BREAKING NEWS: Several Center City Philadelphia are being evacuated because of a transformer fire. EFFORTING DETAILS.

  Aside: Is that English?

  I've witnessed a couple of transformer explosions/fires. They sound like a hand-grenade going off (which is very loud). They also produce noxious fumes which can be deadly. Most people take the hint and skedaddle when it explodes but if it's close to the air intake for a building people could still be in harm's way and not know it.

PB

[spinbaby]

16. Reminds me of the London bombings

The London bombings were first reported as transformer fires. I hope it's transformers in Philly.

[Catherine Vincent]

13. Should'nt you be getting out of there?

[PCIntern]

14. I'm about 2 blocks away...

lots of personnel still rushing to the scene...

It was earth-shaking...loudes explosion I've ever been near, of course, that's not saying much but we've had a few here.

the ground shook and the windows rattled.

[malaise]

15. CNN now

underground cable caused explosion -several buildings evacuated.

[eShirl]

17. those damn explosive cables (n/t)

[PCIntern]

18. WTF is a multiply exploding cable?

I also recall to awakening to the transformer explosions all over London...amazing coincidence...

[intaglio]

19. I pray it is not an early October surprise eom

[spinbaby]

20. Here's a station with some coverage

http://www.nbc10.com/index.html

They claim to have live video, although all I seem to be able to get is a Miss Clairol commercial. There's a photo of a fire.


On edit: at least three explosions. The fire they show in the photo seems to be coming up out of a manhole.

[Garbo 2004]

21. Just saw "breaking news" blurb on MSNBC. Wonder if they were faster on the

"ostrich on the loose" story yesterday.

[PCIntern]

22. Many blocks cordoned off...telling folks

not to come downtown. Lots of cops out my window here...