Manhole Explosions Shut Down Streets, Charles/MGH Red Line Station

BOSTON (CBS) – Two manholes exploded near the Charles/MGH Red Line Station Tuesday afternoon.

Video from SkyEye showed flames and thick black smoke pouring out of a manhole on Cambridge Street under the Red Line tracks. One witness told WBZ-TV she heard three explosions and a manhole cover flew 30 feet up in the air.

Eversource said the explosions were the result of an equipment failure.

Several roads were temporarily closed and the Red Line bypassed the Charles/MGH station.

Boston Fire said they received a call for smoke coming out of multiple manholes at about 3:15 p.m. When firefighters arrived the ground had already buckled around some of the manholes. Firefighters consulted with Eversource and applied a foam extinguishing agent.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, traffic was greatly reduced in the area, and no injuries were reported.

The explosions happened near Mass General Hospital, but operations were not impacted.