News

Power plant explosion sends New York into frenzy

by Michael Burke - 12/27/18 10:47 PM ET

A transformer explosion at a power plant in New York City lit the sky bright blue on Thursday and caused a frenzy in the city.

The New York City Police Department wrote on Twitter that the blue light came from a “transformer explosion at a Con Ed facility in Queens” and added that the fire from the explosion was under control.

“ADVISORY: The lights you have seen throughout the city appear to have been from a transformer explosion at a Con Ed facility in Queens. The fire is under control, will update as more info becomes available,” the department tweeted.

ADVISORY: The lights you have seen throughout the city appear to have been from a transformer explosion at a Con Ed facility in Queens. The fire is under control, will update as more info becomes available. Follow @fdny, @NYPD114pct and @conedison. pic.twitter.com/fdzQKs1wVV

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 27, 2018

There were no injuries reported in the incident, according to the New York City Fire Department.

#FDNY units have responded to 1740 31 St in Astoria. The incident is under control. There are no injuries reported, and no fire.

— FDNY (@FDNY) December 27, 2018

LaGuardia Airport initially grounded all flights following the explosion but has since lifted the grounding, according to media reports.

Before authorities announced that the explosion had occurred, the blue lights provoked a craze on social media on Thursday night.

Twitter users, unsure of what had caused the light, shared photos and videos on Thursday night of New York City’s sky. Some joked that aliens may have been invading.