A steam pipe explosion beneath a street in New York's busy midtown blew a hole in the ground and sent steam and debris showering into the air.
One person died and more than 30 were hurt.
The blast, near 41st Street and Lexington Avenue, raised fears of terrorism, but officials were quick to dismiss that possibility.
The cloud of steam lasted more than two hours and raised concerns about asbestos, which was used when the pipe was laid in the 1920s.
The pipe supplies midtown with steam, which is used for heating and air conditioning.
It is thought the explosion was caused by cold rainwater reaching the underground steam pipe.
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