Homes Evacuated in New Jersey After Explosion Shoots Manhole Into Air

Homes in one New Jersey town were evacuated after a series of subterranean blasts and fires Wednesday, including one that sent a manhole cover shooting more than 20 feet into the air, fire officials say.

Houses and businesses were cleared out after the explosion was reported on Elizabeth Avenue in Elizabeth at about 11 a.m., authorities say.

No one was hurt in the explosion and it appears that no businesses or homes were damaged.

Fire officials say that the wet weather was to blame for the blast, causing salt used to melt ice to rush underground and spark the explosion in an electrical conduit.

Firefighters said that there were multiple blasts, one of which sent a heavy metal manhole cover shooting into the sky.

"You could hear a loud arc and the manhole let loose," said one firefighter. "It went about 25 feet in the air and flipped around a couple of times. 

Firefighters were still at the scene Wednesday afternoon. It's not clear when people will be let back into buildings.

Authorities said that Elizabeth Avenue was closed from Second Avenue to Fifth Street because of the fires and blasts 

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