HORRIFYING video shows the moment a huge fireball sent pedestrians running for their lives on a busy street.
Shocking CCTV footage shows flames burning fiercely just yards from unsuspecting passers-by.
The huge blast in Brooklyn, New York is believed to have been sparked by a gas leak.
Before anyone has time to react, the fireball grows so large that the whole of the frame turns white from the hot glow.
The fire can be seen burning several stories high while people turn and run from the scene.
Eventually, the blaze dies down and a plume of thick, black smoke can be seen rising into the air.
The blast happened on the evening of Wednesday, December 11.
The U.S. Sun has approached the New York City Fire Department for comment.
It comes after a power failure in Downtown Brooklyn left thousands of subway riders stranded underground during the Wednesday evening rush hour.
Power was lost just before 5:30 pm between Jay Street/MetroTech and Hoyt-Schermerhorn stations, causing disruption to four separate subway lines.
The A, C, F, and G lines all lost power or had to be rerouted.
Some 3,500 riders were on two F trains that lost power and had to be evacuated.
ConEdison did not promptly address The U.S. Sun’s inquiry about whether the blast was connected to the subway disturbance on Wednesday evening.
Stranded riders were forced to pee between the cars as they waited to be rescued.
Cookies were passed around to some of the affected passengers.
Some were trapped underground for up to two hours.
GAS LEAK WARNING
WHAT to do in case of a gas leak:
- Smell an odor similar to rotten eggs
- See a white cloud, bubbles in water, blowing dusty, dying plants
- Hear a roar, hiss, or whistle
- Leave immediately and take others with you. If leak is outside, move to safe spot far away
- Call 911 or 1-800-752-6633
- National Grid customers call 1-718-643-4050
Source: ConEdison
“People were peeing in between the cars,” passenger Anders Nelson, 42, told The Gothamist.
“People were passing out cookies. It became a little community thing.”
Brooklyn City Councilmember Lincoln Restler said on social media the outage may be linked to a manhole explosion in the area.
“I was just on scene at State & Smith St, where manhole exploded earlier this evening,” he told X.
“Street closures in area as first responders investigate.
“MTA infrastructure implicated & no rail power between Jay St & Hoyt Schermerhorn. Does not appear related to jail project.”
