A startling explosion erupted along a busy Manhattan sidewalk on Friday, sending pedestrians scattering and debris flying, but miraculously leaving no one injured, officials confirmed.

The incident unfolded just after noon on East 48th Street, nestled between Third Avenue and Lexington Avenue.

According to a report, as the chaotic incident occurred, the ground erupted beneath pedestrians walking under scaffolding.

Dave Singh, an employee at a nearby building, was caught in the heart of the explosion. “At that moment we didn’t even think about it, we were just scared and ran out of here. It was scary,” Singh recounted. He described witnessing “the whole pavement come up” before instinctively fleeing the scene.

First responders quickly arrived following reports of manhole fires, conducting thorough checks of surrounding buildings. The explosion was so powerful that its shockwaves were felt across the street. Witness Rafael Maldonado vividly recalled the moment: “All of a sudden it blows up. The whole sidewalk came up — explosion! Things going up in the air. Stuff sprinkling out. It’s crazy.”

In the aftermath, a nearby restaurant was evacuated as firefighters scrambled to extinguish flames on the street. Fortunately, both the FDNY and the Department of Buildings (DOB) reported that no injuries occurred, and there was no structural damage to the 36-story apartment building at the explosion site.

FDNY Deputy Chief Claude Hagen speculated on the cause, stating, “It might have been gas stuck in between the sidewalk and the building. Con Ed is investigating. There might have been a leak and being there’s no ventilation it eventually went into explosive levels and blew underneath the sidewalk.”

Con Edison promptly shut down power and gas to the affected apartment building and is working to establish a temporary power line until repairs are completed.

Investigators from the DOB have determined that the blast originated from an electrical explosion beneath the sidewalk, although the precise cause remains unclear. An ongoing investigation is in place, with no immediate timeline for its completion or for the reopening of 48th Street east of Lexington Avenue.