As the New York Times reported: Steam pipe explosion unnerves Manhattan. Bloggers were unnerved too, writes Shona Ghosh.
The steam pipe explosion took place near 41st Street and Lexington Avenue, killed one and affected thousands of commuters trying to make their way home from Grand Central Station.
The chaos triggered fear of a terrorist attack among New Yorkers. Many have commented online that the air of panic was reminiscent of the 9/11 attacks. Sue Geller comments:
"These are definitely scary times, in NYC today, the fear that another terrorist attack was upon us had folks running through the streets covered with debris, tears running down their faces. In fact it was a steam explosion in the streets of Manhattan, but how close these feelings are to all of us and how frightening these times truly are."
Rebecca, posting on Pixels from the Edge agreed:
"New Yorkers are always hypersensitive to this kind of disturbance. I am very grateful that everyone I know that was near the disaster site is safe."
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Some bloggers themselves witnessed the explosion, posting pictures and videos. Stuntbox watched it rising from afar, while p2guy documents the fire services in action.
Most, however, were concerned with the welfare of their nearest and dearest as panicked families attempted to get in touch with commuters near the blast. The Garance was one such sister, while silver_chipmunk was an alarmed wife:
"I have been growing more and more frantic as the evening has been going on, because I never heard anything from The Husband, and Grand Central is right where he goes through on the subway. I thought at the very least he was trapped in the subway, and at worst, well ... It got later and later and later and I couldn't get through to his cell phone ... And then finally he called..."
Commuter blindsquirrels was on the spot:
"I managed to leave a message in my parents' home voicemail saying I was all right. Then the cell phone service shut down. The streets were packed with people and no one knew what had happened. I heard that a building had come down and that an electrical turbine had exploded - but nobody knew anything."
Some New Yorkers took a more cynical view of events, commenting that if terrorist blasts were not a threat, (maintenance company) Con Edison certainly was.
Anxious commentators voiced their concern over the presence of asbestos in the atmosphere leaving little blue pd wondering why the blast had taken place:
"It happened right around the corner from one of the biggest creators of traffic congestion in NYC. Will Mayor Bloomberg do anything about this?"
Other internet journalists, such as Daily Barf took a more humorous view of the consequences at Grand Central Station:
"The suspension of service on the 4,5,6, and 7 left thousands trapped in Manhattan with only one choice, to get awkwardly hammered with co-workers they'd never hang out with otherwise."
