ConEdison crews are working to determine if there is possible asbestos contamination in Midtown East following a steam line break this morning.
The Fire Department says they received reports of a broken steam pipe at Second Avenue and 53rd Street around 5:30 this morning.
Traffic was closed from 51st to 54th Streets, between First Avenue and Lexington Avenue.
“They came, ConEdison opened there and it came out twice as much as it does now, they closed some but they say that yesterday there was an explosion down there on Second Avenue and because of that they started to close and they were letting the people who work in the buildings pass and all that but right now they are not letting anyone pass,” says an eyewitness.
Police, fire and emergency services have been coordinating operations in the area throughout the day to determine whether asbestos has indeed been released from the steam leak.
Tenants in the immediate area were asked to shelter in place in their apartments and pedestrians to avoid the area.
No injuries have been reported.
