Deadly Steam Blast Hits Manhattan

Beneath Grand Central Terminal on July 19th, a steam pipe exploded and propelled a massive jet of dirty steam towards commuters on their way home. More than 40 people were injured in the blast, including several firefighters and a police officer. So far, one death has been attributed to the explosion.

“The ground was literally shaking under your feet,” said New York police Deputy Commission Paul Browne. It was enough to shatter the windows and blow off one of the doors of a school bus.

While many feared it to be a terrorist attack, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was quick to dispel the rumors. “There is no reason to believe this is anything other than a failure of our infrastructure,” he said. He further went on to detail that while some telephone lines had been knocked down, electric power was fine.

Soon after the pipe burst, New York City's Department of Emergency Management (DEM) began taking samples of the debris to test for harmful substances. In six of 10 samples asbestos was found. The DEM quickly put out a statement advising that “people who may have come into contact with the steam or debris should take a shower and place their clothes in plastic bags for cleaning or disposal.”

Used to insulate pipes, asbestos is a fibrous mineral. Those exposed to asbestos can, over time, develop skin problems, allergies and cancer. As a result, the area inside the “zone” surrounded by Vanderbilt and Third avenues as well as 40th and 43rd streets have been “frozen”. Those inside the zone are allowed to stay, but are advised to use caution. Otherwise, nobody is allowed entry to the zone until further notice.

“People inside buildings in the frozen zone should keep windows closed and switch air conditioners to recirculate the air inside in stead of drawing in air from outside,” suggested the DEM in the statement it released.

The pipe that exploded was installed in 1924.

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