TV Photographer Captures Flying Manhole Cover

Authorities say an underground electrical fire is blamed for an explosion that sent a manhole cover flying more than 200 feet above a Buffalo
4/14/2015
Updated:
4/17/2015

BUFFALO, N.Y.—It’s an opportunity that happens once in a life time for a TV news photographer. A WGRZ photojournalist was interviewing a man on the street when the second of three blasts occurred about a half-block behind the man he was interviewing. The video shows the cover flying high into the air as the man yells “Heads-up!” several times.

Authorities say an underground electrical fire is to be blamed for the explosions.

WGRZ-TV reports  that the fire began around 11:30 a.m. Sunday on Tupper Street in downtown Buffalo.

Police evacuated two buildings as smoke poured out of manholes. A Buffalo Fire Department official says explosion sent the manhole cover 200 to 300 feet into the air.

The cover landed near a firefighter and a utility truck. No one was injured.