Authorities investigate an underground electrical explosion, in midtown Atlanta on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2018. The fire department is looking into reports that multiple manhole covers blew off Peachtree Street. Both police and Atlanta Fire Rescue said there were no reports of any injuries. (John Spink/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Republished February 06, 2019 - 9:18 AM
Original Publication Date February 06, 2019 - 6:41 AM
ATLANTA - Authorities are investigating an electrical problem that sparked nearly a dozen underground explosions in midtown Atlanta.
Both police and Atlanta Fire Rescue said there were no reports of any injuries Wednesday morning, but witnesses reported that manhole covers were blowing off during the repeated explosions.
Fire Rescue spokesman Cortez Stafford said about 10 large explosions were reported by witnesses around 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Police closed several midtown blocks of Peachtree Street, the main artery through the city, and Stafford said some patients at Emory University Hospital Midtown were moved away from the street as a precaution.
Stafford said investigators suspect rainwater got into a transformer, but they're working to determine the exact cause.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019