Downtown Baltimore is partially dark following several bursts of manhole covers

Baltimore — Numerous explosions involving manhole covers were reported in Downtown Baltimore on Thursday night. As a result, hundreds of people lost power until Friday morning while investigators worked.

According to fire officials, electrical activity is thought to be the initial source of the explosions. The Baltimore Office of Emergency Management said that when crews arrived in the 300 block of North Charles Street, they discovered fire emanating from one manhole cover and smoke coming from many manhole covers.

IMPORTANT TRAFFIC IMPACT: Due to workmen working in the 200, 300, and 400 blocks of North Charles Street between Baltimore and West Mulberry Street, there will be traffic changes on Friday morning.

According to officials, subterranean electrical conduits along the street were affected by the fire.

For firefighters to put out the fire, the electric system was de-energized, according to a statement from BGE. As a result, 1600 customers lost power. The company promised to send staff to investigate and offered assistance with the response.

We are back at N. Charles St. after multiple manholes exploded Thursday night.

This morning officials told us this area will be closed for several hours Friday.

There is no word yet on what caused the explosion. @wjz #Baltimore pic.twitter.com/ekvhS6NgrJ

— Janay Reece (@janay_reece) January 26, 2024

According to the OEM, the general grid of Centre Street, Liberty Street, St. Paul Street, and Fayette Street is affected by the outage in the downtown region.

“Customers may experience additional temporary service interruptions during the restoration process so that new underground electric cables can be installed,” BGE stated in a statement.

The tragedy has not significantly damaged Mercy Medical Center, which is situated nearby. For a while, the hospital’s garages and buildings lost electricity, according to city officials.

Five surrounding locations had to be evacuated as a result of the event. Circuit courthouses in Baltimore City’s downtown are closed on Friday due to ongoing emergency repairs.