A steam pipe rupture in midtown Manhattan closed several streets for hours Wednesday as crews tested the air quality to make sure it was safe for residents to return.
The steam line issue started as a leak at East 52nd Street and 2nd Avenue around 2 a.m., according to the Department of Emergency Management. People living nearby heard a loud bang around that time and reported the rupture. The situation continued to worsen before it was capped around 6:45 a.m., emergency officials said.
Many streets in the area were closed as emergency crews asked local residents to stay in their homes while the air was tested for possible asbestos exposure. East 51st Street to 54th Street between First Avenue and Lexington Avenue were closed for hours Wednesday.
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Police weren't allowing people to enter the area, several New Yorkers attempting to get to work told NBC New York. Con Edison advised those who lived nearby to close their windows and avoid going outside due to the potential risk of asbestos exposure.
Videos from the scene showed a parked car covered in dust and crews in hazmat suits inspecting 2nd Avenue in the afternoon, while it was shut down to traffic.
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In an evening press conference, Mayor Eric Adams said initial air quality tests did not show elevated levels of asbestos. Iscol also said that all tests run as of Wednesday evening had come back negative for asbestos in the air and that everyone could return to their homes, with police escorts.
Adams encouraged residents in the area to wear facemasks as a precaution. N-95 masks are available to residents concerned about the air quality. Adams also said residents were asked to keep windows closed until the area was cleaned.
Air quality monitoring in the area will continue, along with a presence of emergency crews, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter, from the city's emergency management account.
Residents were warned to expected bus detours and traffic delays in the area until all streets reopened.
No one was injured in the incident. Eight Con Edison steam customers were impacted by the rupture, officials said.
The cause of the leak was under investigation.
Iscol said that while the rain on Wednesday and into Thursday was expected to help with conditions, many of the surrounding streets are expected to remain closed for "at least a few days" as crews clean up from the rupture. He said some areas from Second Avenue all the way over to Park Avenue on East 52nd-54th streets would remain closed.
Con Edison said as part of the cleanup process, crews will be washing buildings and streets "out of an abundance of caution."
Back in 2018, a steam rupture in the Flatiron neighborhood spewed airborne toxins for blocks, which then took weeks for buildings to make sure their facades were clean and free of dangerous dust. Before that, in 2007, a steam explosion near Grand Central Terminal killed one person and injured dozens, while sparking demands for reform.
Some of Con Ed’s underground steam pipes are 100 years old or more, with some dating back to the 1880s. The steam pipes — part of a network of over 105 miles of pipes below NYC — are larger than others and often were wrapped in asbestos.
Editor's note: The FDNY initially said residents were being evacuated from the area rather than sheltering in place.
