5th Avenue Water Main Break, Gas Blast Disrupt Manhattan Traffic

A water main break and subsequent gas pipe explosion on Manhattan’s famous Fifth Avenue snarled traffic and disrupted bus and commuter train service Friday, officials said.

The break in the 48-inch pipe, which occurred between 19th and 20th streets near Madison Square just after 3 a.m. EST, caused a gas pipe explosion during the morning rush, fire officials said.

Fifth Avenue was closed to all traffic and pedestrians for several blocks, but no one was injured. Some of New Jersey’s PATH commuter trains had to be rerouted as a result of the fire.

The explosion created a 25-foot deep crater more than 200 feet wide in the middle of the avenue, threatening to swallow parked cars. Officials were unable to say how quickly the road could be repaired.

Several buildings in the neighborhood were evacuated as flames shot from the street two to three stories into the air. The fire was contained several hours later, officials said.

Midtown Manhattan has been plagued by other infrastructure problems during the holidays, most notably on Madison Avenue and 53rd Street, where bricks began tumbling from the facade of an office building, closing the street for several weeks.