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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Explosion rocks central New York | Explosion rocks central New York |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| An explosion has rocked central New York during the evening rush hour, forcing the evacuation of nearby streets and Grand Central Station. | An explosion has rocked central New York during the evening rush hour, forcing the evacuation of nearby streets and Grand Central Station. |
| Officials said a number of people had been taken to hospital after being hurt when a steam pipe ruptured underneath Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. | |
| The New York Police Department said the incident, which blew a large hole in the street, was not terrorism-related. | The New York Police Department said the incident, which blew a large hole in the street, was not terrorism-related. |
| Police said there were unconfirmed reports of six people injured. | Police said there were unconfirmed reports of six people injured. |
| Millions of pounds of steam are pumped beneath the streets of New York, heating and cooling thousands of buildings. | Millions of pounds of steam are pumped beneath the streets of New York, heating and cooling thousands of buildings. |
| In 1989, three people were killed when a steam pipe ruptured in the city. | In 1989, three people were killed when a steam pipe ruptured in the city. |
| 'Like a volcano' | |
| The large explosion just before 1800 (2200 GMT) spread chaos and fear on the streets of Manhattan's east side, with people running from the scene as steam billowed up from the ground. | |
| The blast left a crater in the middle of Lexington Avenue and sent clouds of steam, mud and rocks into the air. | |
| As I was running I got pelted in the head by rocks and concrete Reggie Evans | |
| Firefighters and emergency crews rushed to the area, closing off part of the street between Grand Central and the Chrysler building. | |
| Thousands of commuters were evacuated from the rail hub after workers yelled for them to get out. | |
| A witness, investment banker Heiko Thieme, said the explosion was like a volcano erupting. | A witness, investment banker Heiko Thieme, said the explosion was like a volcano erupting. |
| "Everybody was a bit confused, everybody obviously thought of 9/11," he told the Associated Press. | "Everybody was a bit confused, everybody obviously thought of 9/11," he told the Associated Press. |
| Reggie Evans also likened the effect to the attacks on the World Trade Center. | |
| "I saw rocks and pebbles coming down. As I was running I got pelted in the head by rocks and concrete," he told the Reuters news agency. | |
| "Steam came up and then the ground started breaking up." | |
| Are you in the affected area? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the affected area? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| You can send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | You can send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |