Traffic cameras fully captured the terrifying moment. A column of fire suddenly erupted from the manhole, rushing past a man on a motorcycle and rising several meters above the surface of the road. Two workers and the motorcyclist were taken to the hospital with burns and injuries.
A statement from the district office said the explosion was not caused by a natural gas leak. The possibility was ruled out by city inspectors dispatched by the local utility company.
Authorities say the incident was related to a suspected build-up of methane gas in a sewer. The two workers at the epicenter of the explosion were performing maintenance work on underground water mains. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
Tags
Natural catastrophe
